Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer returns under rules and Olly Murphy has first Naas runner - Sunday's punting pointers

Punting pointers for Sunday's meetings . . .

Carlisle: trainer returns

Trainer Harry Whittington makes a comeback as yard favourite Saint Calvados has rejoined his Oxfordshire stable, now used for pre-training, and returns to the racecourse in the Cocklakes Open Hunters' Chase (5.10).

The 12-year-old won a Grade 2, the Poplar Square Chase, and scored at Cheltenham for his festival-winning trainer before he was taken to Paul Nicholls when Whittington handed back his licence at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Yet David Maxwell moved him back to Whittington in December and he was readied back to winning ways in an Alnwick point-to-point in January. He refused last time but returns to a rules track for the first time in 492 days.

Whittington said: "It was nice to get his head in front in a weaker race that has given him some confidence back. I think the biggest challenge for me this winter was to get his mojo back because he definitely lost his way, but we've been able to train here back in the old system."

Saint Calvados17:10 Carlisle

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Jky: Mr David Maxwell Tnr: Harry Whittington

Carlisle stat: course specialists

Jonjo and AJ O'Neill are the most successful trainers at Carlisle this season with five winners from 25 runners (20%). They have two runners there on Sunday, Dearkeithandkaty (2.00) and Sayva (3.30).

Dearkeithandkaty14:00 Carlisle

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Jky: Benjamin Macey (7lb)Tnr: Jonjo & A J O'Neill

Naas: Olly Murphy breaks new ground

The Leinster National fixture has a rare British visitor as Olly Murphy saddles his first track runner with Pleasington in the Grade 3 Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle (2.40).

Murphy, who was Gordon Elliott's assistant before branching out into his own successful training career, has had four runners in Ireland so far and most notably landed a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse's Irish Grand National meeting last year with stable stalwart Brewin'upastorm. 

Naas will be the fifth Irish track where Murphy has had a runner with the McNeill and Stone Family-owned seven-year-old, who looked impressive when easily winning his last two starts.

He will be partnered by Keith Donoghue, who rides for Murphy for the first time, when they face seven rivals. They include the Willie Mullins-trained Belloccio, who must bounce back from a poor run in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle but did win the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot on the Flat last year.

Pleasington14:40 Naas

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Jky: Keith Donoghue Tnr: Olly Murphy

Warwick: bumper to watch

Chantry House, Edwardstone, Good And Clever and Bear Ghylls have emerged from the 2m bumper (5.30) at Warwick in recent years and Sunday's field is packed full of promising types.

The standout is debutant Wilstar, a €250,000 half-brother to Jonbon and Douvan, who begins his career for Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen.

Ben Pauling is responsible for two of them with solid form, course-and-distance winner Legal Weapon and the £150,000 buy Les's Destiny Star. The Dan Skelton-trained Settle Down Jill has form in Listed company but needs to bounce back from a below-par run at Market Rasen last time.

Wilstar17:30 Warwick

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Jky: Sean Bowen Tnr: Olly Murphy

Warwick stat: solid claims

Shelia Lewis is 8-24 (33 per cent strike-rate) with runners at Warwick in the last five seasons. She has Happy d'Ex in the 2m mares' handicap chase (2.20).

Happy d'Ex14:20 Warwick

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Jky: Sean Houlihan Tnr: Sheila Lewis

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