Hi all,
On day two of the Punchestown Festival there are three more Grade 1 races, the highlight being a superb looking Grade 1 Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (5.55). Allaho heads the ante-post market after his Ryanair Chase win, but he faces a strong field that includes last year’s winner and recent Aintree winner Clan Des Obeaux and 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo. Aintree winner Fakir D’oudairies and King George VI Chase winner Tornado Flyer add to the depth of the race.
The Willie Mullins pair The Nice Guy and Minella Cocooner, first and second in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham go head-to-head in the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (5.20). However, they face Minella Crooner, who was forced to miss the Albert Bartlett due to a minor injury. The Punchestown Champion I.N.H Flat Race (6.30) see’s Facile Vega and American Mike clash again after their first and second in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.
Ascot’s first Flat meeting of the season features three Royal Ascot trial races, the Longines Sagaro Stakes (3.35), Merriebelle Stables Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes (4.10) and Paradise Stakes (4.40). There is one that I like in the 5f handicap that concludes the Ascot card.
Punchestown Festival – Day 2
3:40 – Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle – 2m 4f
Interesting to see that David Pipe brings over Thanksforthehelp here. The 5-year-old has been shaping with promise in novice hurdles and is interesting on his handicap hurdle stepped up 2m 4f. The 5-year-old has been racing over the minimum trip on his four starts over hurdles but he shaped like he needed more of a stamina test when ¾ length 2nd of 11 at Wincanton last time and is bred to improve for today’s longer distance. Francois has been knocking on the door in handicap hurdles on his last two starts. He returned from 10-week layoff when a ¾ length 2nd of 15 at Limerick 20-days ago. Nudged up 3lb for that effort but no reason to think that he won’t go well again here.
4:55 – Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle – 2m 4f
I’m taking on favourite Fils D’oudairies with Crosshill in this 2m 4f hurdle. The 7-year-old didn’t really build on his C&D debut success on his hurdles debut in October 2020. Comes into the race after two underwhelming runs over fences and last time back over hurdles. He’s surely better than he was able to show at Thurles last month and the fitting of the first time cheekpieces could see him bounce back to form and if he does, won’t be far away.
5:20 – Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) – 3m
The first three home in the Albert Bartlett The Nice Guy, Minella Cocooner and Bardenstown Lad renew rivalry. Today’s 3m might well suit the front running Minella Cocooner better than Cheltenham but he does have 5 lengths to find with the winner who looks capable of more improvement. Bardenstown Lad gets the first time cheekpieces and could get closer to the pair who finished ahead of him at Cheltenham. He will be suited by today’s ground. Minella Crooner was forced to miss Cheltenham due to a setback. He should be suited by the step up to 3m and is very much in the mix.
5:55 – Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup – 3m
A cracking renewal of the Punchestown Gold Cup. Allaho fresh from another commanding success in the Ryanair Chase is back over 3m for the first time since December 2020. He will go from the front again like he did at Cheltenham. Although his stamina for 3m must be proven. His bold jumping could have his rivals in trouble early in the race. He will be tough to peg back if he’s as dominant as he was at Cheltenham. Last year’s winner Clan Des Obeaux bounced back to winning ways at Aintree in the first-time blinkers. He has plenty in his favour and could be the one to take advantage should Allaho not stay. The likely strong gallop will suit Galvin. The Grade 1 Savills Chase winner finished 4th of 11 in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He finished 2 ½ length behind Minella Indo but I think we’ll see a better run from him here and he can finish ahead of the Gold Cup runner-up.
7:05 – OMC Claims Handicap Chase (Grade A) – 2m 5f
Willie Mullins runs four including favourite Ciel De Neige who is 3-4 since going over fences. The 7-year-old came within a nose of maintaining his unbeaten record over fences in a Grade 3 novice chase at Thurles last month. Probably found 2m 2f on good ground a bit short last time and the return to further is a positive. Stablemate and top-weight Royal Rendezvous won last season’s Galway Plate on good ground. He made a bad mistake in the Topham Chase at Aintree on his return from a 5-month absence and will be suited to return to more conventional fences. The other Mullins runner I like is Annamix, third in the Kerry National earlier in the season,bounced back to form last time when a 10-length 3rd of 29 9n the Topham Chase. Consistency hasn’t been a strong point with the 9-year-old so he might not back up his Aintree effort here but he was a 9-length 5th of 19 in this corresponding race 12 months ago.
Foxy Jacks won this race last year, when it was raced over 2m 4f. He’s 10lb higher this time around but connections opt to take 7lb off his back. His jumping has let him down on his last two starts, he fell in the Topham last time and prior to that was running a big race in the Ultima at Cheltenham when making a race ending mistake three out. He’s respected on his 1 ¼ length 2nd of 17 at Leopardstown in February. If he cuts out the errors he’s a big player here.
Calvary Master won four times between May & July, including beating recent Bet365 Gold Cup winner Hewick in a Killarney novice chase. Best on a sound surface and although he returns from a 121-day absence here. He’s won after a lay off in the past
Ascot
5:10 – Seneca Chief looks overpriced here. The 8-year-old goes well over a stiff 5f, twice a winner at Sandown, and has good record first time up. He won on his seasonal reappearance in 2020 and was only beaten ½ length into second last year. Yard had a winner at Yarmouth yesterday with a seasonal debutant so he hopefully won’t lack for fitness. Stall 1 would be slight concern especially with most of the pace looking to be drawn high and that looks priced in. That said I don’t think he should be outsider of the field and is an each-way contender.
Betting Advice:
Punchestown
3:40 – 1pt win – Thanksforthehelp – 6/1 @ Bet365 and 1pt win – Francois – 11/1 @ Bet365
4:55 – 1pt win – Crosshill – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
5:55 – 1pt win – Galvin – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
7:05 – 1pt win – Annamix – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt win – Foxy Jacks – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Ascot
5:10 – 0.5pts each way – Seneca Chief – 20/1 @ Coral (paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
Cheers
John