Hi all,
Guiri’s win in the first at Punchestown gave us a tidy profit on the day. Just the two Grade 1’s at Punchestown today but there are three big field handicaps to get stuck into.
Punchestown Festival – Day 3
3:40 – Specialist Joinery Group Handicap Hurdle – 2m
Five Helmets comes into the race on a hat trick after winning on his handicap hurdle debut at Navan last month. Up 9lb for that win but he’s only 5-year-old and capable of more improvement.
Ena Baie returned from a three-month break when 4th of 8 at Cork 25-days ago. Back in handicap company today and joint top-weight with Five Helmets. Jordan Gainford takes off a useful 7lb and the mate looks primed for a big run.
Rock Chica has placed on her last two starts and brings some solid form to the race. Just 1lb higher than when an improved 2 & ½ lengths third of 16 in a mares’ only handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse 16-days ago.
The lightly raced Golf Marin seemed to improve for the step up into handicap company last time when sixth behind Five Helmet’s at Navan. He wasn’t given hard race in the straight when his chance was gone. He gets 9lb from Five Helmets for a 14 ½ length beating. However, it’s likely we haven’t seen the best of the 5-year-old yet.
1pt win – Ena Baie – 8/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
4:15 – Pigsback.com Handicap Chase (Grade B) – 2m
Plenty in with a chance and J P McManus has a strong hand with five of the 21 declared runners.
Entoucas is still a maiden over the larger obstacles but you couldn’t fault his short head 2nd of 19 in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival and he could well have won that day but for a mistake at the second last. Just 2lb higher here and has a valuable handicap pot in him.
Top Moon is 0-8 over fences but ran well when a neck 2nd of 20 in a valuable handicap chase at the Dublin Racing Festival. Pulled up when failing to stay in the Irish Grand National last time. Competitive back down in trip and has each way claims if reproducing his Leopardstown run here.
Sully D’Oc Aa comes over from England. A winner at Ascot on his seasonal; reappearance the 7-year-old put in a career best effort when a length 2nd of 18 in the Red Rum Handicap Chase at Aintree last time. Up 1lb but Simon Torrens takes off 3lb. Remains on a competitive mark and the first time cheekpieces are applied today.
Unexcepted is one of the least exposed in the field, having had just two starts over fences. He beat Entoucas by eight lengths on his chase debut at Tipperary in October. Returned from a 4-month absence to finish 6th of 9 behind stablemate Energumene in the Grade 1 Arkle Novices Chase at Leopardstown last time. Ultimately well beaten that day but he had travelled nicely for much of the race. A serious contender on his handicap chase debut.
Voix Du Reve a winner over C&D when trained by Willie Mullins. Put in his best performance for present trainer when 3rd of 6 back over fences in Listed handicap chase at Ayr last time. The top-weight holds no secrets from the handicapper but will be suited going this way around and Jordan Gainford takes off 7lb.
1pt win – Sully D’Oc Aa – 15/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
1pt win – Unexcepted – 8/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
1pt each way – Top Moon – 25/1 @ Paddy Power (paying 6 places 1/5 odds)
5:25 – Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1) – 3m
Flooring Porter set a strong gallop and was never headed when winning the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham last time. Not certain to get an easy lead here but will be hard to beat if reproducing his Cheltenham form here.
Beacon Edge finished 4th in the Stayers Hurdle. He was a little keen in the early stages but coming to two out he looked the biggest danger to the leader but lost two places on the run in. Still, it was a career best effort from the 7-year-old and he can get closer to Flooring Porter.
Ronald Pump finished runner-up in last year’s Cheltenham Stayers Hurdle. He’s only had two starts this season and hasn’t been seen since finishing a ½-length 2nd of 6 to Honeysuckle in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse. Each way claims if returning at his best.
6:00 – Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) – 3m
Just four & half lengths separated the first four home ina 2m 6f handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse 24-days ago. All four – Max Flamingo, Millen To One, Lynwood Gold and Capilano Bridge – have been declared here although Millen To One is first reserve.
Max Flamingo has improved for racing on decent ground winning at Leopardstown and Fairyhouse on his handicap debut. Up 7lb for that success but is going the right way and is capable of better.
Lynwood Gold had shaped well on his handicap hurdle debut after 5 months off when 6th of 16 in a Pertemps Qualifier over C&D. He has a decent chance of finishing ahead of Max Flamingo at the revised weights now back at 3m. Yard had two winners here yesterday.
Wakea and Ben Dundee finished 4th & 5th at Naas last month. Wakea was having just his second start for over 1000 days and showed that he he retains plenty of his old ability. The 10-year-old should stay 3m and is very well treated on his best form.
Ben Dundee was having his first start for over a year last time. Has won here over hurdles and fences and whilst his stamina for 3m must be taken on trust he can race off a 16lb lower mark than over fences.
Pure Genius won a C&D maiden hurdle in January but was to keen on his handicap hurdle debut at Leopardstown. Bounced back to his best when winning Rated Hurdle at Downpatrick last time. Has been raised 9lb for that win but needs respecting back in handicap company.
Floueur must carry top-weight here but he was strong finishing 3rd of 22 to Galopin des Champs in Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last time. Looks worth another try at 3m and has got a good chance.
Capodanno won a Clonmel maiden hurdle in January. The 5-year-old produced a career best when a 2 lengths 4th of 20 to stablemate Lady Breffni on his handicap hurdle debut at Fairyhouse 26-days ago. He might well have gone on to win that day if he had jumped the last two hurdles better. Only 1lb higher here and showed he stayed 3m last time. Open to further improvement.
1pt win – Capodanno – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Max Flamingo – 10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
6:35 – Ryanair Novice Chase (Grade 1) – 2m
Energumene was forced to miss his clash with Shishkin in the Arkle. Prior to that had looked one of the best 2m novice chasers either side of the Irish Sea. He faces four rivals but should be able to set the pace and should win this comfortably.
Captain Guinness finished third in the Arkle and had looked set for second behind Energumene in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown two starts back.
Janidil won a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse last time. That success came over 2m 4f and it was a much-improved performance from the 7-year-old who seemed to appreciate the drier ground. If stablemate Energumene, isn’t as effective on a sounder surface then Janidil could be the one to take advantage.
7:05 – Close Brothers Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed Race) – 2m
Magic Daze heads the betting and will be tough to beat if building on the promise of her 2nd of 15 in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham. Given that was only her third career start it was an excellent effort and she could be capable of more progression. However, the De Bromhead runners haven’t been going that well over the last few days.
Gauloise was well behind the favourite at Cheltenham but that’s wasn’t her true running as she showed when runner-up to Skyace in a Mares’ Grade 1 at Fairyhouse last time. I expect here to get closer to Magic Daze here.
Besides Gauloise. Willie Mullins also saddles Hook Up who finished one place behind her stablemate at Fairyhouse and the interesting The West Awaits. The 6-year-old is only having her third start over hurdles. She seemed to appreciate the better ground when winning a Cork maiden hurdle 25-days ago. Open to more progress but needs to find plenty of improvement to beat her stablemates.
Bigbadandbeautiful, a useful bumper performer last season also won on the flat last summer, returned from an eight-month absence to win on her hurdle debut at Navan last month. Her jumping was novicey at times but it didn’t stop her from winning very easily. Scope for plenty of improvement in the sphere and with a better round of jumping could take this.
Cheers
John