The Punchestown Festival continues to roll on into Thursday. Our writer Joe Napier has picked out his best bets, including a potential dark horse in one of the Grade 1s.
4.15 Punchestown – Frontline Security Handicap Chase
A lot of eyes will be drawn to Blood Destiny here with Willie Mullins’ charge becoming a Grade 3 winner at the beginning of March. However, he was third in what looked a weak enough Grade 1 last time at Fairyhouse and while the drop back to 2m should suit, he might be opposable off this opening mark with other unexposed types up against him.
The chief among the challengers could well be PINKERTON for Noel Meade. He was beaten less than five lengths on his chasing debut in a race won by future Grade 2 winner Imagine in which Inothewayurthinkin, now a Grade 1 winner after stepping up to 3m, was runner-up. His victory at Tipperary to get off the mark nine days ago showed his aptitude for a slightly sounder surface, and the overall balance of his form, save a disappointment at Thurles in February, is one of a horse who is better than a mark of 130.
6.00 Punchestown – Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle
Cheltenham Stayers’ hero Teahupoo will be the headline act and is evidently the best stayer on his day. However, Punchestown might be his nemesis, as he has gone unplaced here at the last two festivals, finishing fourth to Klassical Dream in this a year ago. He wasn’t beaten far, and might be a better horse now, but he only has one win on ground quicker than soft, and one other win after a break of fewer than 50 days.
All of this points him to being an odds-on shot worth taking on. That his main rivals in the market appear to be the 12-year-old Sire Du Berlais and the solid if unspectacular pair of Buddy One and Home By The Lee further emphasise his odds, though one who might be overlooked is ASTERION FORLONGE, for whom this represents his ideal test.
The enigmatic grey is ten years old now, but has always adjusted right at his obstacles. Going this way round helps him immensely, as demonstrated when he was second here last year, while he also goes on the ground. Conditions should serve to make this a sterner test for Teahupoo which contrasts greatly with the benefit the selection will feel in this contest. He also has the benefit of Paul Townened aboard.
6.35 Punchestown – Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle
Three of the last seven renewals of this handicap hurdle have gone to the visitors, and some of the British-trained runners equipped themselves well on day one. A 16/1 winner and 10/1 runner-up both returned and something similar may well be possible here courtesy of BEACHCOMBER.
Jonjo O’Neill’s charge is clearly a character, being pulled up twice this season when becoming unsteerable. However, either side of playing up at Catterick in December, he won twice over 3m1f on good/good-to-soft going, the latter of which was his handicap debut off a mark of 120.
He races off just 5lb higher here and two crucial factors to aid him may well be that he races right-handed (which looks completely necessary at this point) and the big field to keep him focused. Should he avoid a return to the naughty step, he should be progressive in staying races over obstacles.
7.05 Punchestown – Close Brothers Mares Novice Hurdle
Willie Mullins holds all the aces here including odds-on favourite Spindleberry after he excellent runner-up effort in Grade 1 company last time. That gives her a clear form edge, but that did come over 2m4f on heavy ground, and her only experience of slightly quicker going at a shorter trip saw her finish a well-beaten third in her only bumper last May.
That is enough to oppose her with apparent second string GOT GLORY, who must have been impressing her trainer after joining from France last spring. She was immediately pitched into Grade 1 company (in the 2023 edition of the race in which Spindleberry was second this term), and though she was pulled up, that was a show of intent and faith in her ability.
She returned this season to readily win a Naas maiden over 2m last month and she may just be the speedier horse than her more fancied stablemate.
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