Punchestown Festival 2022 | Day Two Through The Card Selections

The 2022 Punchestown Festival got off to a flying start on Tuesday, and day two is now the focus of our Racing Editor, who has selections through the card – including in the feature Punchestown Gold Cup. Check out his thoughts below, with selections available to back via an exclusive new customer sign-up offer at 888sport of Bet £10 and Claim £40 In Bet Bonuses.

MIDNIGHT IT IS – (3:40pm, Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle) 11/1

JP McManus has owned the last two winners of this claiming jockeys’ handicap hurdle and there’s every chance that his striking grey Thanksforthehelp has been teed up for this after producing some eye-catching runs in British novice hurdles earlier this year.

Whilst he is unlikely to have been sent here to make up the numbers, it was very hard not to be impressed by the manner in which MIDNIGHT IT IS landed a maiden hurdle at Limerick last month, and he is taken to follow up with victory here.

Gavin Cromwell’s charge was backed as though that run was very much expected, having generally struggled in three chase outings prior, but classy bumper/hurdles backform behind the likes of Cobblers Dream and Grangee showed this lad holds plenty of ability.

It was perhaps no coincidence that the return to decent ground appeared to help Midnight It Is at Limerick, and he once again has a decent surface in his favour here. Connections have enlisted British-based Kieren Buckley for the ride, who comes into the contest on the back of a seasonal best winning tally, and Midnight It Is represents an age group (6yos) that has taken three of the last four renewals of this event.

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VINNIE IS BUSY – (4:15pm, Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final) 16/1

Freedom To Dream represents last year’s winning connections and should be respected, for all that there doesn’t appear much to split both him and Glengouly on their respective victories against Sam’s Choice, who also runs here.

At the prices, however, preference goes to VINNIE IS BUSY, who has long shaped like a sort with a big pot in him.

This 7yo gelding was once sent off just 10/1 to beat the likes of Farouk D’alene and Stattler in a Naas bumper. He was returning from just under two years off the track when an excellent fourth to Peaceful Sunday at Fairyhouse in February when racing very freely through the early part of his race.

He settled better at Downpatrick last time, despite losing lengths at the start, and was far from done with when taking a tumble three-out. Vinnie Is Busy clearly has a big engine and with this race expected to be run to suit, he rates the value play at the prices.

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FILS D’OUDAIRIES – (4:45pm, Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle) 5/2

It is difficult to get away from the claims of FILS D’OUDAIRIES here, who is one of just a handful of Festival runners sent over by Nicky Henderson.

This son of Saint Des Saints wasn’t far behind Envoi Allen in a Grade 3 chase at this venue when trained by Joseph O’Brien, but jumping issues continued to hold him back over the large obstacles, and he has proven revitalised for the switch to hurdling since joining Nicky Henderson.

Fils D’oudairies built on a stable debut Ascot second when occupying that same finishing position behind handicap blot Langer Dan at Aintree earlier this month. The front two pulled 8l clear of the remainder that day and the run appeared to confirm Fils D’oudairies’ ability to handle better ground conditions.

An official mark of 143 puts him out best on these terms, slightly ahead of Ganapathi, who hasn’t quite looked at his best since returning from an absence.

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MINELLA CROONER – (5:20pm, Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle) 5/1

The Nice Guy is expected to prove popular here on the back of his Albert Bartlett success, but both he and stablemate Minella Cocooner had a tough race at Cheltenham, and it could instead pay to side with the fresh MINELLA CROONER.

The selection was last seen finishing fast for second in the 2m6f Grade 1 novice hurdle at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival (February), a run which strongly suggested that returning to 3m would bring about improvement.

Minella Crooner had run out a course and distance winner on his start prior, supplementing a bumper victory at this venue, so his record at Punchestown is currently an unblemished 2-2.

Jack Kennedy keeps the faith on Wednesday afternoon, and the decent ground looks a big plus for this son of Shantou, whose half-siblings Adrrastos and L’Aigle Royal were both confirmed top of the ground performers over Jumps.

That comment is a direct contrast to Journey With Me, who should improve for the trip but being by Mahler is expected to prefer it much softer.

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ALLAHO – (5:55pm, Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup) 15/8

A vintage renewal of the Punchestown Gold Cup with all nine runners Grade 1 winners.

Clan Des Obeaux took the race 12 months ago and he defied a big market drift when landing the Aintree Bowl just under three weeks ago, the same event that he prepped in last year.

His yard enjoyed a fantastic British-season-closing five-timer at Sandown on Saturday, and with the ground to suit he certainly can’t be dismissed in his bid to retain his Gold Cup crown, but all eyes are expected to be on ALLAHO here.

Willie Mullins’ charge is one of the highest-rated Jumps horses in training, and that’s in no small part down to his Ryanair Chase demolitions at the last two Cheltenham Festivals. He’s a very tough horse to pass once allowed his own way up front and positive tactics are once again expected to be deployed on his step back up to 3m.

Whilst a stiff 2m4f might ultimately be Allaho’s optimum, he should get away with this distance on a level track such as Punchestown, and victory here would certainly open up more avenues next season (King George?).

Slightly unfortunate to bump into the likes of Minella Indo and Chacun Pour Soi at the last two Punchestown Festivals, on recent form, it’s difficult to argue that Allaho is not the one to beat here, and therefore he can be backed with confidence to make it third time lucky at this meeting.

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FACILE VEGA – (6:30pm, Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race) 4/7

Heavy ground and a slightly unconventional route wouldn’t have made life easy in the Champion Bumper at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, and it wouldn’t be a huge shock to see some of the horses that bombed out at Prestbury Park put up improved showings here.

They should simply be playing for place money, however, if the top two bring their A-game.

It was FACILE VEGA that got the better of American Mike at Cheltenham, and although last season’s Champion Bumper form was reversed here at Punchestown, it’s difficult to see the same scenario here.

The impeccably-bred Facile Vega, a son of Cheltenham legend Quevega, pulled just under 4l clear of his reopposing rival, despite connections’ prior concerns regarding the ground, and as long as that performance hasn’t taken too much out of him he should end his bumper campaign unbeaten before setting his sights on novice hurdling next season.

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REBEL GOLD – (7:05pm, OMC Claims Handicap Chase) 16/1

Ciel De Neige is 3-4 over fences, only going down by a nose in a Thurles Grade 3 last time, and went agonisingly close at this meeting last year. A mark of 149 looks no gimmie, however, and with questions to answer for the three directly following him in the market; Egality Mans (ground), Cavalry Master (form) and Fancy Foundations (jumping), this looks capable of going to something at a decent price.

Last year’s winner Foxy Jacks shouldn’t be dismissed, for all that he remains 10lb that winning mark, but the one that really catches the eye at healthy each-way odds is REBEL GOLD.

This gelding has gained all three wins over an extended 2m or shorter, yet his top three RPRs have all come over 2m2f+, and this former point second looked worth persevering with over intermediate distances like this when runner-up at Limerick over Christmas.

A subsequent Leopardstown sixth can be forgiven as all three wins have been gained going this way round, and although he was a beaten favourite at Gowran last time out, Rebel Gold arguably travelled best into that contest before a couple of late errors appeared to take their toll.

That Gowran form was franked when the runner-up Gevrey scored in impressive fashion at Fairyhouse next time out, and this is Rebel Gold’s first start on ground quicker than yielding since running out an 18/1 winner of a handicap hurdle at this venue in September 2020; 20/1 winner on good ground at Limerick prior to that.

Connections enlist the services of Aidan Coleman for the ride here on Rebel Gold, who finds himself just 2lb higher than when going close at Limerick, and although entered back here on Thursday, this significantly greater pot might just tempt connections to favour a crack at this prize ahead of Thursday’s assignment.

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THE MODEL KINGDOM – (7:45pm, Weatherbys General Stud Book Irish EBF Mares Flat Race) 3/1

Noel Meade appears to have found a good one here in THE MODEL KINGDOM, who is out of a bumper winner in Fickle Fortune and caught the eye when running out an 8l winner of a Galway bumper on debut back in October.

The Model Kingdom has been seen just the once since, justifying favouritism to score in Listed company at Navan in November, looking a good bit superior than the bare one a half length margin of victory suggested.

The runner-up has won since, whilst subsequent Dublin Racing Festival second Battling Bessie (who reopposes) was back in third, so the form reads well.

It’s unknown whether the subsequent five-month absence was by design, but it’s hoped that The Model Kingdom has done some strengthening up over the winter, and she reappears on ground that she clearly handles well, which is a big plus in what looks like an open affair.

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Punchestown Day Two TTC Selections