Hi all,
Colreevy’s win in the Champion Novice Chase meant a small profit on the day. Onto day two of the Punchestown Festival.
Like yesterday, I have had a quick look at the three Grade 1 races but it’s the two handicaps that provide most today’s selections.
Punchestown Festival – Day 2
3:40 – Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle – 2m 4 ½ f
Guiri is 0-5 since joining Jessica Harrington but put in a career best effort when 4th of 20 at Leopardstown over Christmas. Today’s better ground should the 6-yer-old travelled last time like he’s on a winnable mark and of the best Conditional jockey’s Simon Torrens has been booked for the ride.
Trainer Dermot McLoughlin saddled the winner of this race in 2016 and he’s got a lively contender in The Great White. The 7-year-old got off the mark at the at the 8th attempt over hurdles when comfortably winning at Limerick 9-days ago. That was a much-improved effort and although he’s been raised 11lb for that success he remains on a competitive mark.
1pt win – Guiri – 8/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
1pt win – The Great White – 17/2 @ Paddy Power
5:20 – Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) – 3m
Galopin Des Champs looked a Grade 1 novice hurdler when winning the Martin Pipe Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. He should stay 3m and has a big chance. He faces a big opponent in Vanillier who won the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham. There is nothing between the pair on official ratings but whether Vanillier has the pace to deal Galopin Des Champs I’m not so sure.
5:55 – Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1) – 3m ½ f
Al Boum Photo third in the Gold Cup heads the betting. The 9-year-old finished runner-up to stablemate Kemboy in this race in 2019. Kemboy is 2-3 at Punchestown but was well behind his stablemate at Cheltenham but that’s not his track. A winner of the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown two starts back. There shouldn’t be much between the Mullins horses over this C&D.
It’s not a two-horse race though. Paul Nicholls brings Clan Des Obeaux over for the race. The 9-year bounced back to form when comfortably winning the Grade 1 Betway Bowl at Aintree. Clearly the first time cheekpieces revitalised him but he was also the only one of the field to give his running that day. That said he goes well right-handed, likes the ground and distance and if the headgear continues to work, must have big chance.
Fakir D’oudairies also won a Grade 1 at Aintree. That success came over 2m 4f though and his stamina must be taken on trust. If he stays 3m, it will be on a sound surface but I think he will prove a better horse over shorter.
6:30 – Supporting Irish Store Sales Champion INH Flat Race (Grade 1) – 2m ½ f
A likely match between the one -two in the Cheltenham Champion bumper: Sir Gerhard and Kilcruit. The latter could reverse placings granted a better gallop than last time. Eric Bloodaxe is an interesting runner. He had looked a smart bumper horse last season winning his first two starts before finishing lame at Leopardstown 452-days ago.
7:00 – Guinness Handicap Chase (Grade A) – 2m 4f
Livelovelaugh is sure to be popular with punters after his win in the Topham, at Aintree, and given the form of the Willie Mullins yard. I just prefer his stablemate Royal Rendezvous. He’s 2-5 over fences and he put in a career best when 2nd of 21 on his handicap chase debut in the Galway Plate last summer. First run since Galway but he’s gone well fresh in the past. Today’s 2m 4f could be on the short side for the 9-year-old and the Plate could be the target again but he’s got the class to go close.
Ten Ten comes into the race in solid form having finished runner-up over hurdles and occupying the same position in the Leinster National last month. Up 4lb but is a solid enough contender.
Embittered was sent off the 9/2 favourite for the Grand Annual at Cheltenham but came down at the 9th. He took a heavy fall that day and provided his confidence hasn’t been dented shouldn’t be far away. Interesting to see if the step up in trip can bring out more improvement in the 7-year-old.
Tiger Voice looked a novice chaser going places when winning on chase debut at Galway last September before falling two out when the most likely winner in a novice chase here a month later. Shaped with plenty of encouragement off a five-month break when 3rd of 7 at Limerick on his handicap chase debut last month. Open to more improvement and is the right end of the handicap.
Black Op, a Grade 1 winning hurdler back in 2018, has won just one of his nine starts over fences but has been highly tried, ran in the King George VI Chase & Gold Cup on his last two starts. The 10-year-old is interesting back in handicap chase company and British raiders have a good record in this race – 3 winners from 19 runners + 21 8 placed since 2013.
1pt win – Royal Rendezvous – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Black Op – 9/1 @ Bet365
7:35 – Weatherbys General Stud Book Irish EBF Mares INH Flat Race (Grade 3) – 2m ½ f
Manisanda was set a stiff task for her racecourse debut at but wasn’t disgraced in finishing third behind two previous winners at Fairyhouse 25-days ago. Clearly the mare is highly regarded as she’s been upped in class for her second start. Likely to improve plenty for her first start and has each way claims.
1pt win – Manisanda – 9/1 @ Bet365
Cheers
John