We have arrived at the final day of what has been a marathon week at the Punchestown Festival, and the finishing line is just in sight as we go in search of more winning betting tips on day five.
Find my picks for day 5 of the festival below, and place your bets with the best online betting sites here.
Punchestown 2:30 Howden Cross Country Chase – 3m½f (5yo+)
Thursday’s La Touche Cup winner, Busselton, is entered up here, and if he is given the green light to run again this week, he will have a good chance of following up today. But it can pay to give VANILLIER one more chance after Thursday’s mishap.
Vanillier was sent off as the favourite for the La Touche Cup on Thursday, but he came to grief when making a silly mistake at the 14th, which saw him unseat Keith Donoghue. That may be a blessing in disguise when it comes to Vanillier not having a hard race and being granted a clear round; he can make up for Thursday’s disappointment.
Selection: VanillierDanger: Busselton
Bet on Vanillier for the Howden Cross Country Chase here
Punchestown 3:05 Oaklodgelandscapes.ie Handicap Chase – 3m7½f (5yo+ 0-145)
Jonjo & A J O’Neill had a good week so far at the Punchestown Festival, with a win on Thursday with Petit Tonnerre and a second-place finish on Tuesday. They have every chance of adding another win to their week with HASTHING.
Hasthing has not had a lot of luck in his last two starts, notably when falling at the last in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He was making headway coming to the second last only to be hampered on landing, which didn’t help his cause. He was still bang there with an each-way chance behind the now Irish Grand National winner Haiti Couleurs. Granted a clear round, a chance of luck could be on the card for the progressive Hasthing.
Herakles Westwood, Your Own Story, and the course winner Fortunedefortunata are others to note.
Selection: HasthingDanger: Fortunedefortunata
Bet on Hasting for the Oaklodgelandscapes.ie Handicap Chase here
Punchestown 3:42 Grade 1 SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle – 2m4½f (4yo+)
Barring accidents, this should be another Grade 1 win for the hugely talented BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD. You can forgive her for her below-par run when well fancied for the Champion Hurdle, as it is now clear that she doesn’t show her best at that track.
Before that, she got the better of State Man the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at this track and followed that up with one of the season’s best performances when taking apart her rivals in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Hurdle. The trip is no issue, and back in against her own sex, this should be a straightforward win for this classy mare.
Jade De Grugy, who was just behind the Brighterdaysahead in the Champion Hurdle, should be the one to follow her home.
Selection: Brighterdaysahead 4/9Danger: Jade De Grugy 7/2
Current Betting: Brighterdaysahead 4/9, Jade De Grugy 7/2, July Flower 12/1, Gala Marceau 20/1, Wyenot 33/1, Lot Of Joy 50/1
Bet on Brighterdaysahead for the Grade 1 SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle here
Punchestown 4:15 Listed Palmerstown House Estate Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase – 3m½f (5yo+ 0-150)
Majestic Force, who got off the mark over fences at Wexford, has a piece of form behind the now Grade 1 winner Spindleberry that would give her a massive chance off what looks a more than workable mark for her handicap chase debut. I only worry that Henry de Bromhead runners have not been running well this week. But if she can buck the trend, she should go close here.
The one that I will side with is CANEL END. He stepped up to just shy of three miles for the first time when he needed every yard to get off the mark, but it was clear that he was now going to thrive over this kind of trip. He got outpaced a long way from the finish at Navan, but the way he finished gives you the impression that his 9lb rise in the handicap may not be enough to stop him from going close here.
Minella Crooner took this last season off the same mark and will need a similar raise from the ashes performance to win back-to-back renewals of the Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase.
Selection: Canel End (e/w)Danger: Majestic Force (e/w)
Bet on Canel End for the Listed Palmerstown House Estate Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase here
Punchestown 4:50 Grade 1 Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle – 2m (4yo)
The Triumph Hurdle first and second clash once again, but today, LULAMBA can gain revenge over the Willie Mullins-trained Poniros.
Poniros was sent off as a 100/1 shot when winning at the Cheltenham Festival, and even though there does not seem to be any fluke about that win, the Nick Henderson team will be more clued on to his treat today. Lulamba did everything right except win at Cheltenham, and now that they know what they are up against, the English raider can add another win to what has been a great Punchestown Festival for the UK trainers.
Blue Lemons was a good winner at Grade 2 level at Fairyhouse last month, and if he can brush up on his jumping, he could give Lulamba and Poniros something to think about.
Selection: Lulamba 2/1 Danger: Poniros 5/2 Current Betting: Lulamba 2/1, Poniros 5/2, Hello Neighbour 4/1, Murcia 6/1, Blue Lemons 12/1, 25/1 bar.Bet on Lulamba for the Grade 1 Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle here
Punchestown 5:25 Listed Lawlor’s Of Naas Handicap Hurdle – 2m4½f (4yo+)
Another deeply compeative handicap hurdle to solve, and as is the case with races such as this, a case can be made for most of the field.
Lord Eerskin rolled back the years when he got back in the winner’s enclosure as he held off Helvic Dream in a driving finish at Fairyhouse. He has gone back up 6lb, and even though the set up of the race will suit his closing style, that may be enough to stop him recording back to back wins. Hey Sunshine’s winning run came to an end when tackling Grade 1 company at Fairyhouse, but the soft ground may have been the reason behind her below-par run, and back in handicap company, on better ground, she can be bang there again.
Even with the inclusion of the Willie Mullins runner, this race may be another prize heading back to the UK, but this time with WELLINGTON ARCH. He has been in cracking form since sent hurdling, winning three out of his six starts and finishing second in the other three. Wellington Arch held off the well-handicapped Kopeck De Mee at Aintree, and the pair were well clear of third place. He has gone up 7lb for that win, but that may not be enough to stop this progressive hurdler.
D Art D Art and Impose Toi are other with strong each way chances.
Selection: Wellington Arch Danger: Hey SunshineBet on Wellington Arch for the Listed Lawlor’s Of Naas Handicap Hurdle here
Punchestown 6:00 DAR Golf Construction (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race – 2m (4-7yo)
It’s been a long time since QUANTUM BOY impressively won his point-to-point, and patience may pay off here. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding was a 40-length winner of his point-to-point, and if he can bring that sort of performance to the racetrack, he can make a winning debut for new connections.
Panjandrum is another point-to-point winner who can go well for Gordon Elliot, while support for any others must be taken seriously.
Selection: Quantum Boy Danger: PanjandrumBet on Quantum Boy DAR Golf Construction (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race here
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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