Day two of the 2025 Punchestown Festival on Wednesday features a trio of Grade 1 contests for racing fans to enjoy.
The card features last year’s Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs who bids to go one better than he has in the last two runnings.
Our expert, Harry Wilson, has three selections on the card including one in the feature race, one in the opener, and another in the Grade 1 bumper on the card.
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Wednesday’s Punchestown Festival tips
14:30 Punchestown – American Sniper @ SP 16:50 Punchestown – Kalypso’chance @ SP 17:30 Punchestown – Banbridge @ SP14:30 Punchestown – American Sniper @ SP
Day two of the Punchestown Festival kicks off with the Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle, a 25-runner event that doesn’t look as competitive on first look.
David Pipe brings two across from Britain, with the JP McManus-owned Thanksoforthehelp joined by topweight American Sniper, and it’s the latter who makes plenty of appeal.
He’s just 2lb above his last winning mark and it could prove significant that he now switches from blinkers to cheekpieces.
The seven-year-old has produced his three highest Racing Post Ratings when tried in first-time headgear, including twice over this sort of trip on the Old course at Cheltenham.
However, it also seems to be the case that he produces his best efforts when switching headgear, as he won in refitted cheekpieces at Newbury in November after three runs without any headgear.
That didn’t come to fruition last time when the blinkers went back on, but it was the Pertemps Final and he did too much too soon over that longer trip (was still leading rounding the home turn).
It’s interesting that connections are opting to travel to Ireland to carry topweight in a more valuable handicap than the one he was declared for at Cheltenham’s April meeting two weeks ago (was made a non-runner after spreading a plate), especially as this race has been dominated recently by those at the top-end of the weights.
16:50 Punchestown – Kalypso’chance @ SP
Bambino Fever warrants plenty of respect in the Grade 1 Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion INH Flat Race after following her Grade 2 success at the Dublin Racing Festival with victory in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival.
She will no doubt be a player again with her 7lb allowance, but Gordon Elliott may hold the key with Kalypso’chance, who quickened up nicely to land a Listed event at Navan in December that the trainer has won with the likes of subsequent Champion Bumper winners Envoi Allen and Sir Gerhard, as well as Samcro and American Mike.
He didn’t run his race in the Champion Bumper following a break, as he travelled well enough but was buffeted about on the turn for home and much of the straight, and he was possibly just a bit intimidated in that big field.
He was a hugely impressive winner of a bumper over this course and distance on his debut, scoring by 15 lengths under Harry Swan, who is back in the saddle for the first time since that success, and he should prove that Cheltenham run all wrong.
17:30 Punchestown – Banbridge @ SP
Only four runners take part in the Punchestown Gold Cup and it could be worth taking Banbridge to reverse Gold Cup form with Galopin Des Champs.
This race has eluded dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs in the last two years, and if he runs to the same level as he did in this last year then he is very beatable.
Banbridge remains very unexposed over staying trips, having stayed on strongest to collar the talented Il Est Francais in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day on his first go at three miles over fences.
He didn’t seem suited by the demands of the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, but the return to this venue, where he won the Champion Chase over two miles at this meeting last year, could see him in a much better light.
All of his best form has come at a right-handed track and he could have too much tactical speed for his three rivals, if this turns into a sprint.
Wednesday’s tips
14:30 Punchestown – American Sniper @ SP 16:50 Punchestown – Kalypso’chance @ SP 17:30 Punchestown – Banbridge @ SPtalkSPORT BET welcome offer – Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets*
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