The Grade 1s keep on rolling at the Punchestown Festival, and today, we get to witness one of the greatest staying chasers ever to step foot on a racecourse search for redemption after his Gold Cup crown was taken from him at Cheltenham by Iknowthewayurthinkin.
Away from the Punchestown Gold Cup, seven other races, including a further two Grade 1s, are to be settled.
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Punchestown 2:30 Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle – 2m3½f (4yo+)
The last five winners of this race have been no bigger than 9/1, so even given the number of runners, it has paid to trust the betting market in recent years. But, as I am writing this, there is no current betting available, but there are two who look to be nicely weighted coming in here.
The first is Thanksforthehelp, who is starting to look extremely well handicapped off a mark 116, which is 1lb lower than when bolting up at Chepstow in February 2023 and 12lb lower for his last win at Southwell in April of the same year.
In between those wins, he was sent off the 10/3 favourite for the Pertemps Final at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival and did run well to be beaten eight lengths. He has had his issues since, but on the back of a good 3rd at Haydock in January, he is too well handicapped to ignore.
The other runner, and the one I will be siding with, is the lightly raced FAIRYLAND OPERA. She comes in here on the back of a facile win at Tramore and has since been left on the same mark of 114 despite her 12-length win.
That win was on the back of two good 2nd place finishes in handicaps behind Duke Of Leggagh and Amanha. With that experience and confidence-boosting win under her belt, this consistent mare can give her rivals a lot to think about.
Portnacoo, Ballysax Hank, and She’s A Fine Wine are others to consider.
Selection: Fairyland Opera Danger: ThanksforthehelpBet on Fairyland Opera with Betfred
Punchestown 3:05 Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final – 2m3½f (4yo+)
The Henry de Bromhead-trained Downmexicoway is a good starting point. If you forgive him for his lacklustre run in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse at the beginning of the month, this unexposed hurdler can get back on track after a facile win in December for his in-form trainer. The race conditions suit him well, but the one I’ll be siding with is CORAL RIVER.
Coral River got the better of Kish Bank in his maiden hurdle win at Gorwan Park. He followed that up with a 3rd in a novice hurdle behind Scalpnagoon and bettered that form when finishing 3rd, beaten just over a length behind the now Grade 1 winner Honesty Policy. Champagne Jury narrowly in front of Coral River that day, but Coral River ran green throughout and has it in him to finish ahead of Champagne Jury here.
This will be a big ask for a horse of his experience, but given that he has a lot of untapped talent, he is well worth chancing at what should be an each-way price.
Selection: Coral River Danger: Champagne JuryBet on Coral River with SBK
Punchestown 3:40 Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle – 2m3½f (4yo+)
This race has produced some well above-average winners in the past, none more so than the 2008 winner Solwhit. But is there one of his class hiding in plain sight this season? No is the simple answer. But there is one who looks to have a standout chance of returning to winning ways after a poor run at the Cheltenham Festival, and that is KAID D’AUTHIE.
This 133-rated novice hurdler arrives here after being pulled up in the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Hurdle, but before that was 4th to Kopek Des Bordes at the Dublin Racing Festival and was a good winner of a maiden hurdle before that. Race conditions are very much in the favour of Kaid d’Authie, and it would be disappointing if he cannot take care of his rivals here.
Centerofattention is an interesting runner for Nicky Henderson, but he will need to be above average to win this on hurdles debut. The one who may follow the selection home is Got Glory if she can sort out her jumping. She was about to win the Munster Hurdle at Clonmel in January only to fall two out. If she stays on her feet, she is a danger to all.
Selection: Kaid d’Authie Danger: Got GloryBet on Kaid d’Authie with talkSPORT BET
Punchestown 4:15 Grade 1 Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle – 3m (4yo+)
The first Grade 1 of the day sees the Albert Bartlett winner, JASMIN DE VAUX, take on the Aintree Grade 1 winner, Honesty Policy. Preference is for the Cheltenham Festival winner who thrived for the step up to 3m at Cheltenham.
Going into the Cheltenham Festival, there were major question marks surrounding Jasmin De Vaux’s jumping. But as hoped, the slower pace combined with the step-up in trip brought out the best in the former Champion Bumper winner.
He will never be the most natural jumper, but he pocesses a massive engine, and arguablly this is an easier task than what he faced at Cheltenham. The only slight worry you would have is that he failed to back up his Champion Bumper win when looking to do the Punchestown double at last season’s festival. But besides that, he has major claims here.
Selection: Jasmin De Vaux 6/5 (NB) Danger: Honesty Policy 5/2 Current Betting: Jasmin De Vaux 6/5, Honesty Policy 5/2, Cardcounter 8/1, Familiar Dreams 10/1, Jarrive De Mee 11/1, 18/1 bar.Bet on Jasmin De Vaux with bet365
Punchestown 4:50 Grade 1 Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion INH Flat Race – 2m½f (4-7yo)
Champion Bumper hero Bambino Fever will look to back up her impressive win at Cheltenham, but her form with the 2nd Heads Up ties in closely with COLCANNON, who, just like Bambino Fever, won a Grade 2 bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival.
The Noel Meade trained gelding got the better of Heads Up with ease when they met at Galway in October. And now that Colcannon is fresh since not being eligible to run in the Champion Bumper due to the number of runs he had before the festival, he comes in here a fresher horse than his rival who contested the Champion Bumper. We know how hard it is for young horses to back up a huge effort in the Champion Bumper, so considering his current price, the decision to side with Colcannon is an easy one. Should he get a strong pace to aim at, he will take a lot of beating.
The progressive Switch From Diesel is in a rich vein of form, and she can run well now that she has been upped in grade.
Selection: Colcannon 4/1 Danger: Bambino Fever 6/4 Current Betting: Bambino Fever 6/4, Colcannon 4/1, Kalypso’chance 9/2, Copacabana 5/1, Switch From Diesel 10/1, Classical Creek 16/1, Sunny South West 50/1.Bet on Colcannon with Paddy Power
Punchestown 5:30 Grade 1 Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup – 3m1f (5yo+)
Only four will compete in the showpiece event of day two of the Punchestown Festival, but arguably, the attraction of the week, GALOPIN DES CHAMPS, will look to bring the house down with a relentless front-running display.
This generational superstar comes here on the back of losing out on a hat trick of Cheltenham Gold Cup wins, where an argument can be made that the ground was a lot faster than he likes, which was one of the main reasons he failed in his bid for history. Even though he is not at his best at Punchestown, winning one of his five chase starts here (2nd in the last two runnings of the Punchestown Gold Cup), this looks like an ideal opportunity for a racing superstar to leave his Cheltenham wows behind and get back to winning ways.
Spillane’s Tower was over 17 lengths behind Banbridge when he was sent off favourite for the King George VI Chase at Kempton, but a combination of the ground and Spillane’s Tower not travelling over well but pay to his chances from a long way out. Ground conditions will not be in his favour here again, and he will need to find major improvement to get the better of Galopin Des Champs.
The same can be said for Banbridge who was 43 lengths behind the selection in the Gold Cup. He will get much closer here with the small field, but Monty’s Star, who was 4th in the Gold Cup, can be the one for the forecast.
Selection: Galopin Des Champs 5/4 (NAP) Danger: Monty’s Star 12/1 Current Betting: Galopin Des Champs 6/4, Spillane’s Tower 5/2, Banbridge 4/1, Monty’s Star 12/1.Bet on Galopin Des Champs with Betfred
Punchestown 6:05 Grade 3 Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase – 2m4½f (5yo+)
Blue Lord was sent off favourite for the Topham at Aintree on handicap debut, but he never took to the national fences. Now that he is back on a more conventional track, he should put up a much better showing. His stablemate Jasmes Du Berlais must be the most frustrating horse in training, and it will take him to turn over a new leaf if he is to win over fences for the second time (his only win over fences was on his chase debut). Jasmes Du Berlais will likely travel like the winner, but finds very little when asked for his full effort.
That leads me to last year’s winner, LETS GO CHAMP, who gets the tentative vote off a 9lb higher mark this year. He won last season’s renewal with authority when seeing off Must Be Obeyed, and a repeat of that run would see him go close.
Fighting Fit, Lightkeeper, and Riaan have each way chances.
Selection: Lets Go Champ (e/w) Danger: Riaan (e/w)Bet on Lets Go Champs with SBK
Punchestown 6:35 Grade 3 Weatherbys General Stud Book Irish EBF Mares INH Flat Race – 2m½f (5yo+)
A competitive mares bumper closes out day two of the Punchestown Festival, and the one to side with is the ultra-consistent CARRIGMOORNASPRUCE.
Champion Bumper winner Bambino Fever and the rapid improver Switch From Diesel got the better of Carrigmoornspruce in her last two runs, but she doesn’t have to face anything of that calibre here. She has a nose to spare with Future Prospect, who needs to learn how to settle, but Carrigmoornaspruce was hampered 4f out, and a clearer run will see her uphold that form.
Amen Kate got the better of the selection on debut, and if she can find improvement after two slightly below-par runs, she could get closer to Carrigmoornspruce. But, the Aintree Grade 2 Mares Bumper winner, Seo Linn, should prove the biggest danger to the selection.
Selection: Carrigmoornaspruce Danger: Seo LinnBet on Carrigmoornaspruce with Tote
About the author
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).
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