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Punchestown Day 1 Tuesday Tips and Previews
PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL KICKS OFF ON TUESDAY! We have all 8 races covered in detail including main dangers to our selections.
Make sure you scroll right down to the bottom to see any multiples we are placing. These can be added direct to your bet365 bet slip.
Punchestown Day 1 Tuesday Schedule
3.40 Punchestown Howden Insurance Brokers Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed) 2m1/2f
4.15 Punchestown KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m1/2f
4.50 Punchestown Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) 2m1/2f
5.25 Punchestown William Hill Champion Chase (Grade 1) 2m
6.00 Punchestown Goffs Defender Bumper 2m1/2f
6.35 Punchestown Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1) 3m1/2f
7.10 Punchestown Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Chase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup 3m1f
7.45 Punchestown Oak Lodge Landscapes Flat Race 2m1/2f
Punchestown 3.40
Punchestown is back! We kick off with an intriguing opener and I’m still confident we haven’t seen the best of NIGHT AND DAY yet. Willie Mullins targeted her at a race he usually sends a good one to at Clonmel back in January and she didn’t disappoint winning by an effortless 22 lengths. She then suffered a slight setback and missed Cheltenham as a result. She returned at Fairyhouse earlier in the month but raced too freely before being pulled up. If that hasn’t taken it’s toll she could have lots more to come and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her get back on track here.
Stablemate Nikini looks the danger with Patrick Mullins in the saddle. She won at Kilbeggan and Listowel before bumping into Magical Zoe at Down Royal. She wasn’t disgraced at Cheltenham last month and could also have more to offer so is respected. Shecouldbeanything was in front of the latter at the Festival so must also enter calculations but I think she is a bit short given she didn’t exactly hit the line with much conviction.
Punchestown 4.15
Willie Mullins has won 6 of the last 8 runnings of this race and at the time of writing has the top 3 in the market. FACILE VEGA very much is the one to be with after a really good second in the Supreme to bounce back from a below par run at Leopardstown. That DRF race is his only bad run and he should be hard to beat here. Marine Nationale who beat him at Cheltenham is obviously a very good horse and that form should be good enough to take this.
I know the Mullins yard think there is a lot more to come from Diverge who is less experienced than some of his rivals but he still has to step up again to prove himself at the top level. Il Etait Temps like Diverge is good but might not have the class of Facile Vega when he is at his best. Found A Fifty might get things a little more his way than he did at Aintree but still needs to find more.
Punchestown 4.50
He will need to improve again to win this but MERLIN GIANT is very much going the right way for Emmet Mullins and really impressed with how easily he won at Fairyhouse when last seen. He skipped both Cheltenham and Aintree and arrives fresher than most. He has only had 4 starts over hurdles and if stepping forward again is likely still well handicapped off a mark of 140. He proved he can handle softer ground well last time so is versatile regarding the ground and looks sure to go close.
Tekao beat Ascending at Leopardstown before running well when third behind Gala Marceau and Lossiemouth at the DRF. He was sent off fav for the Boodles at Cheltenham last month but a bad mistake cost him any chance there. He could still have more to come off his current mark and is definitely one of the dangers. McManus also has Brazil who is another one that could run well.
Punchestown 5.25
As you can tell already the theme of Punchestown is Mullins usually wins. He has taken the last 4 renewals of this race and did it last year with ENERGUMENE. He won the Champion Chase at Cheltenham with ease after the ground turned soft and it really suited him. When he gets his softer ground he is nearly unbeatable at this trip and I would be surprised if he didn’t win this again.
The next 3 in the market are from the same yard with Gentleman De Mee the biggest danger on Leopardstown form and is fresh after skipping Cheltenham and Aintree. Blue Lord has a bit to find on that running but I expect him back to his best at some point. The others need to find a lot on ratings and I can’t see them spoiling the Mullins party.
Punchestown 6.00
The money came for SPECULATRIX on debut and she certainly didn’t disappoint. She only ended up winning by a neck but I expect that form to play out well in time (fancy Dollar Nolimit to win the last too). She seems well regarded and if improving could prove the answer for Gordon Elliott. That debut win turned into a sprint and I don’t think that was ideal for her so with this likely to be more of a galloping test she should prove even better.
Gigginstown also saddle Predators Gold who certainly looks the part on paper so it wouldn’t be a great surprise to see them have a 1-2. Elliott trains the selection and also has Tactical Affair who is by No Risk At All and is another one likely with a very bright future. Nouvotic ran well in a point to point and is another to note on debut under Rules.
Punchestown 6.35
This looks like a cracking renewal with plenty of these having the class to win it but have to prove they stay the trip. Of the chief protagonists JOURNEY WITH ME is the one I thought could be better for stepping up to this trip. He didn’t go well in the race last year but that was on quicker ground and as he shown recently he is much better on softer ground. His run behind Impervious this season shows he has the class and I think he will improve for the extra distance.
Appreciate It is a horse that I didn’t think we would be seeing over this trip at the start of the season but watching him this year I understand it and he has to be a danger if at his best over 3 miles. Sir Gerhard I am not convinced by at 3 miles after being soundly beaten at Cheltenham. He was better last time but still needs to prove himself over fences at the top level.
Punchestown 7.10
I don’t have a huge opinion on this race but I am going to stick with last year’s winner VITAL ISLAND. He kept on best up the run-in to beat Good Bye Sam last year and the front 3 pulled miles clear from the rest. This unique test clearly suits him well and he has warmed up nicely for the race with a couple of point wins so is clearly in good heart.
De Nordener was beaten 21 lengths behind the selection last year but still finds himself second fav for this. He is still open to further progress but was well held between the flags in February which is a bit concerning. Three By Two tries this discipline for the first time and might surprise a few if taking to it but still likely up against it.
Punchestown 7.45
This is always a tough race to call with 22 runners, half of which haven’t ran before. That said I like what I saw from DOLLAR NOLIMIT who ran well to finish a close third over course and distance in February. He was ridden like a smart horse that day and cruised into the race only to lose out in a driving finish. He will hopefully improve for the run and looks the one to beat of the ones that have run before.
Ninth Loch will be popular on debut for Willie Mullins along with Rainbow Lily under Jamie Codd. I think the selection has the ones with form in the book covered if improving for the run and it all depends what the newcomers have to offer.
Punchestown Day 1 Tuesday Lucky 15
Punchestown kicks off on Tuesday and we have a Lucky 15 which includes 4 of our strongest bets on Tuesday. If we can land 3/4 winners we would make some decent profit. Pays 520/1!
Punchestown Day 1 Lucky 15
Punchestown 3.40 Night And Day
Punchestown 4.50 Merlin Giant VALUE TIP
Punchestown 6.00 Speculatrix
Punchestown 6.35 Journey With Me
Pays 520/1!
Punchestown Day 1 Win Treble
I really like this Win Treble on Day 1 of the Punchestown Festival. They are all likely to be popular and look decent value when combined. Pays 7/2!
