The Punchestown Festival continues into day three, which features a further two Grade 1’s on the card and includes the return to action of Arkle winner El Fabiolo.
GG Editor Jake Russell guides us through his selections & analysis for all 8 races on Day 3 of the Punchestown Festival.
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Odds correct at time of posting – 5.10pm Wednesday 26th April
3.40 Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle
A very, very competitive start to day 3, and I would be lying if I said I had a strong fancy in this race. After spending considerable amount of time looking at the runners, I whittled it down to BY YOUR SIDE (8/1 generally) of Gordon Elliott’s. The penny finally dropped when he landed a 23 runner Maiden at Naas in March, before going on to run very well in a handicap at Cheltenham 2 weeks ago, finishing a 4 length third. He looks relatively well treated on that evidence, and it looks as if he is starting to put it all together now with each passing run, which gives me confidence especially when a powerful yard like his is persistent with the horse. Danny Gilligan is an inform claimer at the moment who is operating at a 40%-win strike rate for the last 14 days, and he takes the ride, taking off a very valuable 7lb with his claim. I think he will definitely be there or thereabouts off this low weight.
4.15 Pigsback.com Handicap Chase (Grade B)
Willie Mullin’s Dinoblue heads into this race in terrific form, finished either 1st or 2nd on all of her starts this season, she has looked a real nice chaser this year since going over the larger obstacles for the first time. An excellent 2nd place finish in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March, she won a pretty decent Handicap contest next time out by 9 or so lengths, but she has to shoulder a fairly hefty weight against a UK rival who is also in decent form. That horse is DOUGLAS TALKING (7/2 generally), winning two out of his last three starts, arguably a career best came when beaten into 2nd in the Red Rum at Aintree last time out, which could have been more had he not made a pretty bad mistake at the last fence. He has gone up 1lb after that run, and is currently running off a career high mark, but he is thriving at present and with a nice weight in this, he could be one to dominate from the front again with conditions in his favour. Although Dinoblue is a classy chaser, my vote would go for Douglas Talking who could improve again.
4.50 Mongey Communications La Touch Cup Cross Country Chase
A very competitive Cross Country Chase with some horses on recovery missions, and some previously smart horses in their day. I can only whittle it down to the Edna Bolger runners, who does so well in these types of contests. Midnight Maestro was a course winner last season and has the services of top amateur Derek O’Connor so he is one to take very seriously just on that alone, plus he was once a 140 rated horse, who has slightly lost his way this year, but there is no better yard to get him back firing. The yards other runner STEALTHY TOM (2/1 generally) is probably the one to side with, as he looks a potential plot in the making for this race. A two time chase winner this season at a more suitable trip, he was dropped markedly back down in trip to 2-miles over Hurdles last time, where he could only finish 11th out of 20 runners, but that was earlier this month after a 2 month break, so the thinking is that was just a pipe opener for this contest. He is the one to side with for me, with that latest run setting him in fine stead for this contest.
5.25 Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1)
Sire Du Berlais has been in remarkable form of late, landing the Cheltenham and Aintree Festival double, winning both the staying hurdle Grade 1’s, and in some style might I add. He will be doubted again in the market, with another quick re-appearance to contend with, which could catch him out, but he is clearly thriving at present so he could go in again. Klassical Dream hasn’t won this season but has always threated to be a classy Staying Hurdler but is he good enough to land a competitive race of this nature, I’m not so sure. TEAHUPOO (5/2 generally) was many people’s choice for the Stayers Hurdle last month, and he does look to be the one who is arguably the least exposed, with this being only his third run over this sort of trip, so he could improve again. Although beaten at a short price, his performance in the Stayers Hurdle was more than decent enough, and he could go one better here and win. But the one that catches the eye is MONKFISH (9/2 generally), an once Gold Cup hope, who might become so next season, wasn’t seen on the track for 2 years until his run last time, where he really caught quite a few of us by surprise, only getting beaten by half a length over arguably not his best trip. With that surely blowing the 2-year cobwebs away, he is a really interesting contender in this. I cannot decide between Teahupoo and Monkfish, so the reverse forecast might be the way to go for me.
6.00 Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)
Another very competitive Handicap Hurdle, I will keep this short and sweet with my selection. SIR ARGUS (10/1 generally) for Willie Mullins is relatively lightly raced, with just the 8 career runs, he has 2 victories to his name so far. Which includes a very impressive win last time out at Cork where he beat Japers Jack by just under 5 lengths, which was just his fourth run over Hurdles and only his third completion (Fell on debut) His form previously to that was two 2nd place efforts, so this opening mark of 128 looks very lenient, and he can defy that by landing this wide open contest. At double figure prices, and an eye-catching jockey booked, he is the pick for me.
6.35 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1)
A proper sit back and enjoy race if I have ever seen it, EL FABIOLO (1/3 generally) should be winning this doing cartwheels, as the second favourite he has beaten twice already this year, and he took a nasty looking fall at Cheltenham last time. The recent Arkle winner was quite impressive at Cheltenham, where he beat Jonbon by 5 and a half lengths, Jonbon who has since won a Grade 1 at Aintree. The form is rock solid, he looks a rock-solid horse, so there shouldn’t be any issues with him taking his record to 4 wins in just 4 career starts over fences, a real once to look forward to next year.
7.10 Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Handicap Chase
A race that seems some fairly decent Handicapping mares, I think only comes down to the one horse being the winner. Henry De Bromheads QUEEN JANE (4/1 generally) who has a record of 2 wins in just 2 career starts over fences. They wasted little time in getting her over the larger obstacles, with just the 5 career runs over Hurdles, that looks a decent move as she has the perfect mould for a chaser. A nine and a half-length winner on chase debut, that earned her the mark of 117, which she laughed at when winning impressively again by just under 5 lengths last time out at Limerick. She went up 11lbs for that win, but the way she cruised through the field from the back and won going away suggests she is thriving at present and is below the mark given, I really do expect her to make it 3 for 3 over fences by landing this contest.
7.45 JP & M Doyle (C & G) Flat Race
Once again, I seem to be saying Willie Mullins is well represented in the Bumper to close Day 3, and he looks to hold all the aces in this race once again. Dancing City was a decent enough bumper winner at Wexford last time out but looks more of a long-term prospect with a further trip in mind surely. Slade Steel for Henry De Bromhead caught the eye last time when landing a bumper at Punchestown, winning it a shade cosily under his rider for this race, but again could be one with future plans in mind. That leads me to BALLYBURN (13/8 generally) who really caught the eye last time, when winning by just over 2 lengths on his rules debut, Patrick Mullins takes the ride who as we all know is a master when it comes to these races, so he would be the one to side with. Although Jamie Codd did state before the Cheltenham Festival that Better Days Ahead is a real nice horse who could easily win a decent bumper of this nature. The Gordon Elliott charge is one to keep an eye on, but the pick would be Ballyburn.
PUNCHESTOWN DAY 3 THROUGH-THE-CARD TIPS
3.40 Punchestown – BY YOUR SIDE (8/1 generally)
4.15 Punchestown – DOUGLAS TALKING (7/2 generally)
4.50 Punchestown – STEALTHY TOM (2/1 generally)
5.25 Punchestown – TEAHUPOO (5/2 generally) + MONKFISH (9/2 generally)
6.00 Punchestown – SIR ARGUS (10/1 generally)
6.35 Punchestown – EL FABIOLO (1/3 generally)
7.10 Punchestown – QUEEN JANE (4/1 generally)
7.45 Punchestown – BALLYBURN (13/8 generally)
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