The second day of the Punchestown Festival looks another cracker, with a further three Grade 1’s on the card and the return of Gold Cup star Galopin Des Champs.
GG Editor Jake Russell guides us through his selections & analysis for all 8 races on Day 2 of the Punchestown Festival.
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Odds correct at time of posting – 5.10pm Tuesday 25th April
3.40 Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle
Unanswered has been running well without winning recently, and that run includes a decent effort at Fairyhouse when he was a good third of 19 runners. However, he has been creeping up the ratings without actually winning, so he might be best avoided for now. Gavin Cromwell’s La Malmason has only had the three career starts so far, which includes a win on her debut at Cork last November, she was then pitched straight into Listed company but did disappoint. She runs off a fairly high mark for considering what she has done, so she might be worth opposing. LEVEL NEVERENDING (8/1 generally) is the one I am going to side with. He ran well to finish 3rd in a Pertemps Qualifier before going on to disappoint in the final, but he did run well throughout the race, he just couldn’t give a final effort up the hill. Back down in trip and class, he will be there or thereabouts come the final stages of the race.
4.15 Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final
The current market leader Sandor Clegane heads into this race off the back of a decent finish in the Albert Bartlett last time out when finishing a 2-length third, so it’s easy to see why that horse is favourite. THREE CARD BRAG (5/2 generally) was behind Sandor Clegane that day but looked as if he slightly struggled to see out the 3-mile trip, so this drop in trip to 2m4f will suit this horse better. He ran some very decent races in defeat this year, including in a Grade 2 at Naas over the Christmas period, he got off the mark for this year when landing a four runner Novice event at Fairyhouse in January, which was over a similar trip and conditions this race. Three Card Brag has to give weight to the market leader, but with the mentioned factors in his hands, that should not be an issue.
4.45 Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle
GRANGECLARE WEST (2/1 generally) has always been talked about as a decent prospect, but has had his issues, but this looks to be a good opportunity for him to get off the mark for the first time since his Hurdle debut back in November of last year. He has been pitched in some decent contests this year however, Running in the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas in January, where he finished a remote 11 length 5th, before heading to Leopardstown in a Grade 1 contest where he finished 6th of eight runners. This massive step down in class will suit, and given connections have been persistent with him, he is worth siding with, as he will only need to run up to a rating of 136, which looks a doable task. Paul Townend getting booked is a huge plus.
5.20 Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
All eyes will seemingly be on one horse heading into the first Grade 1 contest of the day, that being GAELIC WARRIOR (1/1 generally). He’s had a fairly unusual campaign, starting off in a couple of Hurdle contests earlier this season, as connections were taking advantage of a fairly low mark, before going on to run an almighty race in the Ballymore last time out at the Cheltenham Festival. He finished 2nd that day, and although was fairly well beaten by stable mate Impaire Et Passe, that horse looks a real star in the making. That was his first crack at 2m5f, and in this race he steps up even further to virtually 3 miles, which does pose a few question marks. But, he is trained by a master and does still very much look the one to beat with him being 7lbs rated higher than anything else in the contest, hopefully he can land his first Grade 1 prize by winning this week.
5.55 Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1)
In what looks a straight match between Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame again, it is round two from their fabulous Gold Cup contest at Cheltenham last month, where the Willie Mullins trained star went on to win the prize. It’s great to see Bravemansgame come and contest this, as it looked unlikely a week or so ago with the issues with his now previous owners, he has been given the ok to run at Punchestown this week. And although he won plenty of admirers in the Gold Cup last month (Including myself) it looks another difficult task again to try and dethrone the staying chasing champion GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (1/3 generally). One of the highest rated horses in training, he shown last time at the festival that the further he goes up in trip the better he becomes, he has no flaws to his game and I very much doubt there can be anything done in running to stop Galopin Des Champs landing another Grade 1 prize this season. He is rated 8lbs above Bravemansgame, and those two are way clear of anything else in the field. Envoi Allen comes into this off the back of a classy Ryanair win last time, but the step back up to three miles might not be what he wants nowadays. He could be the one to come close with the main two in the market, but I just can’t see it. What a fantastic race we have in store.
6.30 Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 1)
A typically competitive affair for the Grade 1 Bumper on the card, Willie Mullins is well represented once again, and Tullyhill looks a nice prospect heading into this race. Unbeaten in two runs (One in a point-to-point the other in a Bumper) his Bumper performance last time was impressive and shows he has some ability, but proven Grade 1 winner A DREAM TO SHARE (11/10 generally) does look a formidable opponent. He showed last time out that there was no fluke to his Grade 2 win at Leopardstown in February by landing the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival last time. He was purchased by JP McManus before the festival run, which essentially tells you everything you need to know about this horse, they obviously like what they see, and judging by his performance last time he will be hard to stop once again. It’s For me was quite impressive on stable debut at Navan in January, and he wasn’t beaten far in the Champion Bumper last time, he could still improve and get closer this time, but he looks like more of a one for the future.
7.05 HSS Hire Handicap Chase
Willie Mullins is vert represented once again, and Ha D’or does look tailor made to win a race of this nature, with Paul Townend taking the ride, he looks the yards first string. Royal Rendezvous is set to carry a hefty weight in this, he was a decent second at Fairyhouse last time out and runs in this contest off the mark of 155, he does have plenty to do but he is top rated for a reason, Danny Mullins is also a very good jockey to have as second choice. But ILIKEDWAYURTHINKIN (6/1 generally) has been contesting in some decent enough handicaps this season and was a decent enough 3rd at Leopardstown last time out over 2m5f, that was a decent enough effort, and he can build on that to win this. He does look like a decent prize is in him, and he could be one to side with conditions very much in his favour. His mark of 135 means he has a decent enough weight for this contest, and the services of Mark Walsh are a plus, a jockey who rides well around these parts.
7.45 Weatherbys General Stud Book Irish EBF Mares Flat Race
Another contest where the powerhouse Willie Mullins is very well represented, Junta Marvel was impressive when winning a bumper at Limerick on heavy going a month ago, that was her rules debut so she produced a fine effort to win, but the lack of experience might cause a concern given the opposition. The other Willie Mullins horse FUN FUN FUN (2/1 generally) comes into this race with a decent enough reputation already, winning her first two Bumper starts nicely, she was pitched into the deep end last time out in the Champion Bumper where she found it all too much, finishing a fairly remote 15th place. Back down in class to Grade 3 level, this looks more of her bag at this stage, and Patrick Mullins is excellent in these types of races, I fully expect her to run well in this and get back to winning ways.
PUNCHESTOWN DAY 2 THROUGH-THE-CARD TIPS
3.40 Punchestown – LEVEL NEVERENDING (8/1 generally)
4.15 Punchestown – THREE CARD BRAG (5/2 generally)
4.45 Punchestown – GRANGECLARE WEST (2/1 generally)
5.20 Punchestown – GAELIC WARRIOR (1/1 generally)
5.55 Punchestown – GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (1/3 generally)
6.30 Punchestown – A DREAM TO SHARE (11/10 generally)
7.05 Punchestown – ILIKEDWAYURTHINKIN (6/1 generally)
7.45 Punchestown – FUN FUN FUN (2/1 generally)
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