Hi all,
It’s first post since my Kidney operation a week last Friday.
I’m still in mild pain and sore where the keyhole surgery took place. I also find it difficult to sit at my desk for more than an hour at a time.
That said. I’m determined to get back to work albeit at a steady pace.
It’s the first of five fantastic days racing with the start of the Punchestown Festival. We also have the 1,000/2000 Guineas at the weekend. There’s no better time to get back into the saddle so to speak.
Punchestown Festival – Day 1
One of the perennial question’s punters face with the Punchestown Festival is do you back the Cheltenham/Aintree horses, or do you go with fresher horses who may not have shown there cards yet, so to speak? Another is. How will the change in going effect the form?
Due to the dry winter across the Irish Sea over the winter. The latter looks less important than the former. One thing we can guarantee is some great racing.
4:20 – Herald Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m ½ f
Klassical Dream impressed when winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. If in the same form he will be hard to beat.
Nicky Henderson likes to have a few runners at this Festival, and he saddles the interesting Champagne Platinum. The 5-year-old is unbeaten on both his starts over hurdles. He created a good impression, when showing a nice change of pace to win at Newbury over Christmas. He missed both Cheltenham & Aintree. The form of his two wins isn’t great and he’s to find plenty of improvement to win this. He certainly looks an exciting recruit to chasing when he goes over fences probably next season. I expect Klassical Dream to win for Willie Mullins but I’m happy to take a punt on Champagne Platinum in the hope the hot favourite is off his game.
Champagne Platinum – 10/1 @ Paddy Power
4:55 – Belargus sneaks into the bottom of the weights for this 2m ½ f handicap hurdle. The 4-year-old has just had the three starts over hurdles and last time out won a juvenile hurdle at Ascot. Handicap debut today off what looks a competitive mark off 125. He looked a horse with plenty of scope for improvement when winning at Ascot and should also be favoured by the stronger pace of big field handicap hurdle.
Another to catch the eye off what looks a competitive mark on his handicap debut is the Noel Meade trained Cosmo’s Moon. The 6-year-old won at the third attempt since switching to the stable. Making all, he jumped well for most of the way to win at Limerick 19-days ago. That win came over 2m 3f so he’s dropping in trip here. The drier the ground the better his chance so connections will be hoping the rain stays away.
Belargus – 12/1 @ Paddy Power – each way (paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
Cosmo’s Moon – 10/1 @ William Hill – each way (paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
5:30 – BoyleSports Champion Chase (Grade 1) – 2m
Just the six are set to for the Champion Chase but it’s a good field with Willie Mullins having the first three in the market in: Min, Un De Sceaux and the Great Field. Min was only 5th to Altior at Cheltenham but followed up by winning over 2m 4f at Aintree. Un De Sceaux won this race last year but the going looks like it will be livelier this time around. Of the three Great Field is the most intriguing. Even though his last two form figures are FF. Hasn’t run since falling at Leopardstown over Christmas. First run for 124-days but he’s got a fine record when fresh with form figures 111F. He’s a Grade 1 horse when everything clicks, and he gets an uncontested lead. I’m happy to take a chance that he can surprise his better fancied stablemates.
Great Field – 10/1 @ Paddy Power or 8/1 @ William Hill
6:05 – Not a race to get to heavily involved in for obvious reasons. But it’s interesting to see Nicky Henderson decided to bring over Son Of Camas over for his racecourse debut. Highly regarded by the trainer and he’s booked Patrick Mullins for the ride in this valuable bumper.
Son of Camas – 3/1 @Bet365
6:40 – Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1) – 3m ½ f
Delta Work heads the ante-post market, not surprisingly given his third placed effort behind Topofthegane in the RSA Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
Drover’s Lane was well behind Delta Work in the RSA but the better ground will be more in his favour than it was at Cheltenham. Not sure he will be good enough even on a sound surface but he could easily run into the places for trainer Rebecca Curtis whose had winners at the meeting in the past.
A Plus Tard, turned the normally competitive Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase into a procession when winning at Cheltenham on his last start. Step up to 3m should be fine for the 5-year-old. He deserves to take his chance in Grade 1 company, but it may be worth noting that his best form has come in much bigger fields than he faces today.
Getabird missed both Cheltenham and Aintree so will be fresher than most. Won here over 2m on his seasonal reappearance which makes him 3 wins from 5 runs at Punchestown and indeed all his six career wins have come going right-handed. The 7-year-old was then beaten at 8/15, albeit by just ½ length, in the new Grade 1 at Limerick on Boxing Day. But for a mistake at the last he could well have won. This is just his third start over fences, but he remains capable of better. Steps up to 3m today so has stamina to prove but interesting to see that trainer Willie Mullins lets him take his chance here. He will do for me.
Getabird – 4/1 @ Coral & William Hill
Cheers
John