Saturday marks the end of the Punchestown Festival, with eight more races bringing it to its conclusion. Joe Napier picks out his best bets for the final day below, after an 11/1 winner on Thursday.
2.30 Punchestown – Donohue Marquees Cross Country Chase
The seemingly endless array of Cross Country chases comes to a close in race one. Plenty of these have already taken part over the banks this week, with the 14-year-old Singing Banjo having won on Thursday, while Three By Two has already had two goes at the track.
It shows that plenty of horses are capable of going well at the track multiple times in one week, perhaps due to the gentle nature of the gallop they set. As such, Coko Beach is feared, but one horse who has long threatened to be a top Cross Country chaser is ROI MAGE, and connections finally take the plunge here.
The 12-year-old has finished seventh and ninth in the last two Grand Nationals and won over 3m3f in France last November. He fell in his one attempt at the Cheltenham banks course, but is very much worth another go here with freshness on his side.
3.05 Punchestown – Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase
Both Ontheropes and Klarc Kent ran respectively in the Scottish National for Willie Mullins, who won this race last year, though both remain beatable off these current marks. Preference is for one further down the handicap in OUTSIDE THE DOOR, who might relish this first attempt at close to 4m.
He improved substantially on his previous handicap form this season when runner-up at Leopardstown over 3m4½f last time, a step up in trip of nearly half-a-mile. He was beaten a fast-diminishing half-length that day, and though he is up3lb, the extra trip coupled with good ground means this race may present his optimum conditions.
4.50 Punchestown – Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1)
Kargese is due a second Grade 1 after admirable attempts at Cheltenham and Aintree. However, she continues to race too keenly for her own good, so even though the ground could see her home, she is worth taking on. It may just be that stablemate STORM HEART gets one over on her here.
The Gigginstown horse was beaten just over a length by Kargese at the Dublin Racing Festival, but was still the mount of Paul Townend when only fifth in the Triumph Hurdle. However, easily his best run in provincial races in France came on good ground, and the impression of his debut on New Year’s Eve remains. There may well still be a Grade 1 operator in there, and these conditions may bring out the best in him even though Townend now deserts.
5.25 Punchestown – SBK Gold Trophy Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race)
I am a firm believer that GOLD DANCER will eventually prove better than his mark, so even though this race might be too much too soon, he could be worth chancing at a big price with his trainer Willie Mullins throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at it. He has been pitched into the deep end for his first two starts, which suggests his yard think there is ability there.
However, there is another one in here that maybe better for the day, which is FASCILE MODE for Thomas Mullins. He is predicted to be a big price as well, having run here on Tuesday in the 2m Grade 1 novice hurdle. His trainer has campaigned him at Graded level all season, but while he is probably a rung below that, he has often performed with credit. This handicap will take some winning, but he may appreciate the calmer waters and emerge as a horse better than a mark of 132.
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