Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I look at the best of the action at the Punchestown Festival.
Punchestown Festival – Day 3
All eyes will be on day three of the Punchestown Festival. There are two Grade 1’s on an eight race card. The first of them is the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (5:25) and the second one is the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (6:35).
There could be anywhere between 10mm & 20mm at Punchestown on Thursday which complicates things from a betting point of view. I’m working on the assumption that the rain does arrive. However, as ever it’s by no means guaranteed to show up so you must be ready to have back up selections if you’re having bets at Punchestown this afternoon.
As with the previous two days I begin today’s previewing the Grade 1’s. The first one looks far and away the more interesting of the two.
Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (5:25)
Sire du Berlais won the Stayers Hurdle and followed up in the Grade 1 at Aintree 12 days ago. It’s a quick turnround for the 11-year-old but of more concern would be if the race was tactical, which it could turn out to be.
Teahupoo a ¾-length third of 11 to Sire du Berlais in Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham is likely to be a warm order here. Especially if the forecast rain arrives to ease the ground further. Klassical Dream was on a going day when winning this race last year, but he boiled over at Cheltenham last time. Not sure what to expect from the 9-year-old but he’s 3 from 3 in April and his Punchestown form figures are 1311.
Ashdale Bob pulled up in the Stayers Hurdle, but he was only 1 ¼ lengths behind Klassical Dream last year and can’t be ruled out.
Asterion Forlonge beat Monkfish by ½ length in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse 17-days ago. The winner is better going right handed and has definite claims if he stays 3m. Monkish was returning from mammoth 713-day absence last time and he could bounce. The return to 3m is a big plus for his chance though.
Queens Brook was a 5 ¾ length 3rd of 9 to Honeysuckle in a slowly run Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham. That was a career best on RPR’s from the mare and the step up to 3m is well worth a try. She gets the 7lb mares’ allowance too and her Punchestown form figures are 211.
Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (6:35)
El Fabiolo is going to be hot favourite after his win the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival. Barring a serious mistake, he surely wins this. Stablemate Dysart Dynamo had jumped well in the Arkle but he he’s a free going sort. He did too much out in front at Cheltenham and was a tired horse when falling at the last. Punchestown is a more speed favouring track and his rivals can’t afford to let him get away out in front.
El Fabiolo has the class, but Dysart Dynamo is the more solid jumper of the pair despite his fall last time.
Rest of the Punchestown Card
There are four handicaps on today’s card. That makes the day more interesting from a betting perspective than the previous two days for me.
3:40 – Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle – 2m
There looks like there will be plenty of competition for the lead which should mean we get a very strongly run race. That’s put me off recent Leopardstown winner Clever Currency who got the run of the race out in front last time. Golf Marin got off the mark at the 13th attempt when winning a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle 18 days ago. A return to better ground suited the 7-year-old last time and he will be suited by the likely strong gallop. Another who should be suited by the strong pace is Figaroc. The 8-year-old improved for the step into handicap company when a 5 ½ length 4th of 19 to Telecon at Fairyhouse 18-days ago. But for a mistake at the second last when making headway he would have finished closer. Trainer Philip Dempsey won this last year with Broomfield Hall and he’s a good chance here with Broomfield Bijou. The mare improved to win a Ballinrobe novice hurdle 13-days ago and can progress further on just her sixth start over timber. Garrybello, twice a winner over hurdles when trained in France. The 5-year-old posted a career best on RPR’s when 3 ¼ length 5th of 14 to L’yser at Cork 18-days ago. That was a good effort, and he takes a drop in class here which could see him go close.
4:15 – Pigsback.com Handicap Chase (Grade B) – 2m
Dinoblue runner-up in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham went one better at in a similar race at Fairyhouse 18-days ago. A 7lb rise in weight’s makes life tougher for the mare but she’s capable of better. Whiskeywealth was just in front of Dinoblue when falling at the last, the pair clear, he might well have been overhauled by the eventual winner on the run in, but he does get 4lb from Dinoblue and shouldn’t be far away. He will face pace pressure from Douglas Talking here.
Douglas Talking just failed in his hat trick bid when a 1 ½ length 2nd of 13 in the Red Rum Handicap Chase at Aintree two weeks ago. An excellent jumper of a fence, he’s open to improvement over fences and provided he didn’t have too hard a race last time won’t be far away. We haven’t seen The Folkes Tiara since he finished 4 length 2nd of 9 to Final Orders on handicap debut at Leopardstown in December. Just having his fourth start over fences and is 5lb out of the handicap but shouldn’t be far away. Yard won this last year with Magic Daze.
6:00 – Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) – 2m 7 ½ f
A Great View won this in 2018 and again last year, from 3lb higher. The 12-year-old hasn’t been at his best so far this season but wasn’t too bad when 6th of 17 over C&D two starts back. This will have been the plan once more. Vulnerable to younger legs but he loves it around here and must be high on the shortlist once more. Walking on Air was a good 4 lengths 5th of 23 to Good Time Jonny in Pertemps Final at Cheltenham last time. Might well have finished closer that day if he had got a clearer run two out. Better ground will suit the 6-year-old’s who’s one for the shortlist.
Verdant Place won over C&D and showed he remains in form when a 7 length 2nd of 12 at Fairyhouse 19-days ago. The winner that day looks a big improver, so it was shame to finish runner-up. Another capable of a big run if the ground doesn’t dry out to much more. Kilbeg King might be an 8-year-old but he only made his hurdle debut in November. A winner of two of his four starts over hurdles he posted a career best on handicap debut on RPR’s when a neck 2nd of 10 at Newbury last month. He’s only 1lb higher and looks on a competitive mark.
Let’s Go Champ runner-up to one who won a Grade 2 next time at Naas two starts back. The 8-year-old might have been a fortunate winner when the leader fell at the last when winning a Tipperary maiden 9-days ago. Lacks the experience of most of his rivals but he’s a novice who looks on a workable mark on handicap debut. Lord Snottie improved for the step up to 3m 2f when winning on handicap debut at Warwick on New Year’s Eve. Off for 11 weeks and returned with a good 3 lengths 2nd of 13 to Trelawne at Uttoxeter last month. Needs the forecast strong pace to materialize to win and soft ground to slow his rivals down but if he gets it, he’s a big player. Given his trainer’s record targeting big pots he’s one to have on side.
7:10 – Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Handicap Chase – 2m 5f
English challenger Lilith must be respected in her attempt for back to back wins in this race. She’s 5lb higher this time around and must bounce back from a poor run at Market Rasen last month. This year’s race looks more competitive and there are several mares with good claims.
Indie Belle made it 2 from 5 over fences when winning on her handicap debut at Downpatrick 25-days ago. Up 9lb and in a deeper race but might be capable of better.
Kalli’s Quest got off the mark at the 7th attempt over fences when beating 12 rivals at Navan 54-days ago. The first time cheekpieces had the desired effect last time but her Navan win did come over 3m so the drop back in trip might not suit in a better race. Broomfield Hall on the 2m handicap hurdle on this card 12 months ago. A winner of her first two starts over fences, she’s struggled in Graded/Listed company on her last two starts but a step into handicap company can see the 8-year-old back in a better light.
Henry De Bromhead has a couple of contenders in Queen Jane and Secret She Keeps. Queen Jane made it 2-2 over fences when winning on her handicap chase debut at Limerick (2m 1 ½ f) last month. A rapidly improving handicap chaser the 7-year-old is up 11lb for her latest success but is going the right way and should be suited by the step up to 2m 5f. All her three career wins have come on soft ground so connections will be hoping the forecast rain arrives. Secret She Keeps won a Thurles beginners chase in October (good to yielding). She wasn’t quite at her best when a 6 length 4th of 14 to Farceur du Large on handicap chase debut here last time. First run since November and if freshened up by the break she looks on a fair mark. Best form has come on better ground so any rain might not be welcomed.
Betting Advice:
Punchestown
3:40 – Broomfield Bijou – 12/1 -1pt win – @ Coral & Ladbrokes, Garrybello – 1pt win – 22/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Figaroc – 1pt win – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:10 – Whiskeywealth – 1pt win – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
6:00 – Lord Snootie – 1pt win – 16/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes, Verdant Place – 1pt win – 16/1 @ Bet365 or 11/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Kilbeg King – 1pt win – 11/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
7:10 – Broomfield Hall – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.
Cheers
John