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Punchestown Festival Racing Tips and Previews Wednesday
DAY 2 OF THE PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL! Another 3 Grade 1s from Ireland on Wednesday and I have all the action covered including main dangers.
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.
RacingTV Wednesday Schedule
2.30 Punchestown Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle 2m31/2f
3.05 Punchestown Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final 2m31/2f
3.40 Punchestown Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle 2m31/2f
4.15 Punchestown Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m
4.50 Punchestown Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 1) 2m1/2f
5.25 Punchestown Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1) 3m1f
6.00 Punchestown HSS Hire Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2m41/2f
6.35 Punchestown Weatherbys General Stud Book Irish EBF Mares INH Flat Race (Grade 3) 2m1/2f
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Punchestown 2.30
A lot like the opener yesterday this isn’t a race to go mad in and a tentative vote goes to HARSH for Joseph O’Brien. He had a winner yesterday with Banbridge so the yard are in good order. This 4yo reacted well to first-time cheekpieces finishing fourth in the Boodles at the Cheltenham Festival when last seen. He shaped as though he’ll appreciate going up in trip and at an each way price he should be bang there.
Obviously plenty of dangers and one of them would be the favourite Walk Away Harry for Charles Byrnes. He will be spot on after that run at Cork and if jumping better is a danger to all. Final Orders was given a good shout by his trainer and is another one I expect to run well.
Punchestown 3.05
After winning at Naas ANSWER TO KAYF likely improved again in defeat to finish fourth to Better Days Ahead in the Martin Pipe. He was probably a bit too keen in hindsight but stayed on well and was beaten less than 3 lengths. He carries top weight here but that is with good reason and with the drop back in trip slightly likely to suit if he improves again then he must have a massive shout in this.
Blizzard Of Oz won well at Leopardstown and has won 2 of his last 3 now but he could get overbet with the Mullins and Townend factor and I think the selection represents value against. Black Bamboo hasn’t been running badly in big handicaps and could be best of the rest.
Punchestown 3.05
Main danger Blizzard Of Oz but look out for Black Bamboo
Punchestown 3.40
That Supreme form continues to get franked so I’m confident MISTERGIF is the one to beat here. He finished fifth behind Slade Steel and co on that occasion and then was fourth behind Mystical Power at Aintree. He just didn’t jump well enough on that occasion but now in much calmer waters should be able to show how good he is. There is plenty of pace on so he should get a toe in and I expect him to race a bit more forward than he has been lately.
The danger is likely No Flies On Him who looked promising initially winning on hurdles debut at Leopardstown but hasn’t built on that finishing down the field at Fairyhouse last time. This is easier and he still has potential though so don’t write him off just yet.
Punchestown 4.15
I know Dancing City will be popular here especially after the Mullins winners on Day 1 including in these colours but BETTER DAYS AHEAD seems good value against. He took a big step forward to win the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival last time and he has more to come going back up in trip. He’ll be suited by this test and he is one of my stronger bets of the day.
Both Dancing City and Stellar Story are closely tied having beaten each other. I do think the former is the danger though as he still looked a horse learning his trade when winning at Aintree and should have further improvement to come as his stamina is drawn out.
Punchestown 4.50
The way JASMIN DE VAUX won the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham was impressive and with the promise of more to come I think he can remain unbeaten here. He cut through the pack in good style and showed plenty of gears to edge out Romeo Coolio who looks promising himself too. I expect him to confirm that form and they should be the 1-2 again.
William Munny made a winning start before impressing at Naas and skipped Cheltenham so comes here fresh. He is another one who could be pretty useful so expect him to show up well too.
Punchestown 5.25
I know GALOPIN DES CHAMPS was beaten in this last year only managing second to Fastorslow but he firmly put that rival in his place at the DRF and then he was behind again before unseating in the Gold Cup. He has gone from strength to strength and with Gerri Colombe franking the form winning impressively at Aintree he is extremely hard to get away from. The only surprise is the 4/5 on offer from the bookmakers. Worth snapping up!
Fastorslow does go well at this track so he could emerge as the danger once again. Conflated ran a cracker when second to Jonbon at Aintree and might be a bit of value to nick a place. Hard to recommend much else as Hewick has enough to prove and Corach Rambler unseated in the Grand National last time.
Punchestown 5.25
Main danger Fastorslow but Conflated could run well at a price
Punchestown 6.00
I’m not quite sure how JAMES DU BERLAIS got beat in the Topham last month. He cruised through the race and was only pegged back in the final 50 yards or so by the gutsy Arizona Cardinal. If he runs to that sort of level I’m confident he is the one to beat in this and he deserves to bag a big prize. He carries top-weight but does look the most likely winner under Paul Townend.
Bill Baxter unseated in the Topham last time but he got no further than the third so hard to tell what kind of form he is in. He is back down to a decent mark so could emerge as the biggest danger. Idas Boy took a tumble when last seen but goes well fresh so also has an each way chance.
Punchestown 6.00
Main danger Bill Baxter but Idas Boy goes well fresh and is also feared
Punchestown 6.35
She will need to settle much better than she did at the Dublin Racing Festival but if she does AURORA VEGA will be a danger to all in this. She was 3-3 before that blip and is a mare who still has that star potential. They will go a good gallop here with the likes of Familiar Dreams and Mozzies Sister potentially locking horns early so it could pan out perfectly.
Always quite a few dangers in bumpers and Fleur Au Fusil has to be respected despite only finishing seventh at Cheltenham. She just raced too keenly that day so if settling better could bounce back. Air Of Entitlement for Robcour impressed on debut and is another one that must enter calculations.
Punchestown 6.35
Main danger Fleur Au Fusil but Air Of Entitlement could also be dangerous
Punchestown Day 2 Acca
I’ve backed another Acca for Day 2 of the Punchestown Festival and it includes a mixture of win, place and cover bet selections (only available with bet365). Pays 8/1!
Punchestown Day 2 Acca
Punchestown 3.05 Answer To Kayf TO PLACE (3 PLACES)
Punchestown 3.40 Mistergif TO PLACE (3 PLACES)
Punchestown 5.25 Galopin Des Champs TO WIN
Punchestown 6.00 James Du Berlais TO PLACE (3 PLACES)
Pays 8/1!
ITV Pick 7 Tips
From our research here are our ITV Pick 7 predictions for Wednesday 1st May 2024. £1K is up for grabs! Deadline – 2.05pm.
2.05 Pontefract Impressor 4/1
2.40 Pontefract Invincible Annice 2/1
3.15 Pontefract Giselles Defence 9/2
3.50 Pontefract Do I Dream 3/1
4.25 Pontefract Pals Battalion 5/4
5.00 Pontefract Savvy Exchange 3/1
5.35 Pontefract She’s Got Bottle 8/1
Winning distance – Nose
