I’m not sure if it could be described as brave or stupid as I go down the same unoriginal road today but I reckon 11/10 is actually a good price for Native Trail, which has an outstanding chance based on what we’ve seen so far for Charlie Appleby under William Buick.

With five wins in five races to his credit, including a Group One at the Curragh, and the likelihood of improvement to come, it’s no surprise to see the Oasis Dream colt at the top of the market here – although Aidan O’Brien’s Luxembourg will surely put up a fight, having won all three starts including a Group One at Doncaster.

If you’re looking for one at a bigger price at Newmarket, consider backing Came From The Dark, which was trading at 5/1 yesterday for the Group Three Betfair Palace House Stakes (3.0).

Trained by Ed Walker, the six-year-old is fairly smart, winning five races from 19 runs, mostly handicap victories, but he was successful at Group Three level when last seen in July last year, and it’s interesting to see that he’s got a few early entries for later on in the season, including a couple of Group Ones.

A neck-second in this last year under Hollie Doyle, the pair can get the job done today. Twilight Calls and Tis Marvellous would appear to the be main threats to the bet.

In tomorrow’s 1,000 Guineas (3.40 Newmarket), I’m quite keen on Aidan O’Brien’s Tenebrism, and I’m hoping I can back her at 5/2 or thereabouts.

A daughter of Caravaggio, she won her debut maiden back in March last year and wasn’t seen for a few months until she last raced at Newmarket in September. On that occasion, she won the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes, which was quite noteworthy given her inexperience, and she definitely looks to be something special.

On a point of interest, I found out recently that the word Tenebrism comes from the Italian, and sometimes means gloomy or dark – but it’s also used to describe a style of painting which uses dramatic illumination with light and dark.

As mentioned, the filly Tenebrism is a daughter of Caravaggio, and the artist Caravaggio, who died in 1610, was one of the most famous practitioners of the Tenebrism technique. The next time you are in Dublin, don’t forget to drop into the National Gallery as it’s always worth a look at The Taking of Christ, which is a fantastic example of Caravaggio’s work.

I’ve digressed a little, so back to Punchestown, which brings the curtain down on the five-day festival this evening. I’ll enjoy the Grade One Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (5.0) without a bet, with Vauban likely to go off as short as 4/9.

He made a couple of mistakes at Cheltenham but still won the Triumph Hurdle by over two lengths to one of today’s opponents, Fil Dor, and remains very promising.

One short one I’m happy to back here is Nicky Henderson’s Epatante, which has been chalked up at 11/10 for the Grade One Coolmore Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (3.50) under Aidan Coleman.

Second to Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle, having won it herself in 2020, the eight-year-old won the Aintree Hurdle last time in fine style. Stablemate Marie’s Rock is the one most likely to follow her home, although Telmesomethinggirl is not without a chance for Henry de Bromhead under Rachael Blackmore.

Finally, at 13/2, the Martin Brassil-trained Fastorslow gets the vote in the Grade B Tote Always SP Or Better Handicap Hurdle (5.30) under Rob James, who is great value for his 7lb claim. A talented jockey on the point-to-point scene, James won the Scottish National recently on Win My Wings, and the weight he takes off will be useful, as Fastorslow is 1lb off the top weight here with a rating of 144.

Aged just six, Fastorslow is lightly raced so is still somewhat unexposed, but put in a career-best last time when a short-head second to Commander Of Fleet in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, having traded as low as 1/20 in-running on Betfair.