Hi all,
It was a good job I decided to put up selections on Monday given we had a couple of winners at Naas, including Blairmayne 20/1 (BOG).
Punchestown Festival – Day 1
Day one of the Punchestown Festival. They have been artificially watering to maintain good to yielding ground and with little rain forecast for the next few days that seems likely to continue.
Whilst it’s good to see so many of the Irish stars in action. In truth this festival would look good if it was held over three days rather than five.
Talking of stars of the jumping code. Sir Gerhard and Dysart Dynamo take each other on in the Grade 1 Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle (4:15). Stablemates Energumene and Chacun Pour Soi seem likely to renew rivalry in the Grade 1 William Hill Champion Chase (5:25). Whilst those two Grade 1’s look matches. The final Grade 1 of an eight-race card the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (6:35) looks a more interesting affair.
6:35 – Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1) – 3m ½ f
Lucky Cheltenham scorer Bob Olinger takes on six rivals on his step up to 3m for the first time. Capodanno wasn’t disgraced when a 12-length 4th of 9 in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham. However, his jumping wasn’t great that day but hopefully the better ground will suit him. Beacon Edge was a very disappointing 7th in the Brown Advisory. He’s got questions to answer after that. Although you wouldn’t be shocked if he was to run a big race here.
Fury Road bounced back from a poor effort at the Dublin Racing Festival when 5 length 2nd of 4 to Ahoy Senor in the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree last time. A reproduction of his Aintree run puts him very much in the mix.
Millers Bank comes over from England and should like underfoot conditions. The 8-year-old posted a personal best on RPR’s when winning the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase (2m 4f) at Aintree earlier this month. He was strong at the finish that day and the step up to 3m could bring out more improvement.
Lifetime Ambition looked suited by the step up to 3m when winning a Grade 3 novice chase at Limerick last month. He’s got a bit to find on official ratings with some of the principals but he’s no forlorn hope. The ground will suit the 7-year-old who is a solid jumper on his day.
Verdict: Boring choice but Bob Olinger will be hard to beat. Millers Bank is open to further progress for a step up to 3m and could be the favourites biggest rival.
4:50 – Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) – 2m ½ f
You could give all 18 runners some sort of chance. The Henry De Bromhead yard is in better form now and he saddles four here. The two I like most are Gua Du Large and Great Bear. The latter a three-time winner on the level for his previous yard remains a maiden after nine starts over hurdles but did finish 3rd of 22 over C&D here 12 months ago. First start for the De Bromhead yard today and if he’s ready to roll after a 177-day absence wouldn’t be far away off today’s mark.
Rachel Blackmore is on Gua Du Large. The 6-year-old returned to winning ways when successful in a 18 runner handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse two starts back. The sound surface seemed to suit that day and he wasn’t seen to best effect on the County Hurdle on his only subsequent start. He remains on a competitive mark and is a big player.
Hearts Are Trumps has dropped down to 2lb below his last winning mark and returned from a six month break with a highly respectable 7-length 6¾ lengths 7th of 17 at Fairyhouse 10-days ago. More exposed than many of his rivals but the 9-year-old can’t be totally dismissed.
Tempo Chapter Two didn’t stay 3m at Fairyhouse last time and disappointed in the County Hurdle and return to 2m and the application of the first time cheekpieces needs to have the desired effect.
Sit Down Lucy will be well suited to the likely strong pace. The mare finished a 4 ¼ length 4th of 18 to Gua Du Large at Fairyhouse and is 7lb better of here not considering the 7lb that is claimed off her.
Still Standing put it together over hurdles when winning a Gowran Park maiden hurdle in the autumn. Today’s going will suit and although he’s 2lb out of the handicap he’s one to be interested in on his handicap hurdle debut.
Verdict: I’m going to take a swing at three here and they are Gua Du Large, Still Standing and Hearts Are Trumps.
Betting Advice:
Punchestown
4:50 – 1pt win – Gua Du Large – 14/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power, 1pt win – Still Standing – 16/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt win – Hearts Are Trumps -16/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.
6:35 – 1pt win – Millers Bank – 15/2 @ Bet365
Cheers
John