Free betting tips for Punchestown Festival
Man On The Spot's race-by-race guide and best bets for this afternoon's meeting at Punchestown.
Tuesday Punchestown nap:
3.40 Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Chase For The Ladies Perpetual Cup
Sky Bet paying 4 places instead of 3
Enda Bolger and Peter Maher have won the last eight of these between them and, in what is an uninspiring start to a great meeting, they can continue the trend. ENNISKILLEN won the event a year ago with Blue Templar back in third. The winner is very much in the veteran stage but scored on the point-to-point course here in February and age hardly seems to matter in these events over the banks course. Blue Templar was receiving 7lb last year and beaten three lengths. He hasn't really made the expected progress between the flags and looks booked for a place again. Vital Island looked very poor when pulled up four times between the flags last year but has suddenly grasped what the game is all about and won two points last month. Richard O'Keefe's charge wouldn't have much more to do to get involved and easily holds Senators Glory, Just Wait And See and Mia's Milan on his latest victory at Lingstown. Tippinawaynow has had 15 starts between the flags without winning while Drumlosh Sallie was poor over hurdles, though has managed a victory from two runs in points.
4.20 Herald Champion Novice Hurdle
What should prove an epic battle for the trainer's title begins here with GETABIRD taken to get Willie Mullins off to a winning start. He had Mengli Khan eight lengths behind when landing a Grade 2 here in January and started a short-priced favourite for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham. However, he was soon done with after leading to three out that day and was swamped with Mengli Khan going on to finish an excellent third, just in front of Paloma Blue. However, he proved his Festival effort to be all wrong when sauntering clear of Draconien, Hardline and Sharjah at Fairyhouse and will take the world of beating. Whiskey Sour had all the luck in the world when landing the Future Champions at Leopardstown but has continued to run well while Colin Tizzard sends the progressive Aintree runner-up Vision Des Flos from the UK and it would be no shock to see him in the money.
4.55 Killashee Handicap Hurdle
Sky Bet paying 6 places instead of 4
The title protagonists are joined by Joseph O'Brien with multiple entries and though all three of the latter's entries have been running moderately the drying ground will be in their favour. Tigris River hasn't come anywhere near replicating his Galway Hurdle victory but he's been racing in unsuitable conditions and may prove best of the trio. But he finished a long way behind Low Sun at Fairyhouse last week and Katie O'Farrell keeps the ride on the very progressive five-year-old, who is upped 8lb. His stable companion Nessun Dorma fell in that contest though was beaten at the time but Paul Townend keeps faith with him rather than the rest of the Mullins battalions, though it's intriguing to see Bunk Off Early back over timber after falling when in the lead over fences at Gowran. Morgan was also behind in Low Sun's race at Fairyhouse though looks best of Gordon Elliott's entries but Noel Meade looks to have better chances with Dis Donc and JOEY SASA and it's the latter, an easy winner on the Flat at Dundalk since scoring at Downpatrick in October, who gets the nod. Last year's 1-2, Western Boy and Light That, shouldn't be ignored with the ground coming in their favour.
5.30 BoyleSports Champion Chase
Sky Bet Price Boost: Douvan
Willie Mullins looks to have this at his mercy though this hasn't been the best of races for the yard in recent years. DOUVAN has been here four times and won the lot. The 2016 Arkle winner finished lame when long odds-on for last season's Champion Chase at Cheltenham and didn't reappear until the same race last month when he looked his old self before falling four out in the race won by Altior. He should now be at concert pitch and will need to be against his illustrious stable companions Min and Un De Sceaux. The former eventually finished a seven-length second to Altior at the Festival before finding 2m4f taxing his stamina at Aintree, where he went down by a neck to Politologue. Back over his optimum trip he rates a huge threat, as does Un De Sceaux, narrowly beaten by Fox Norton in this a year ago but much better on ground with plenty of give as he later showed in the Grade 1 Clarence House at Ascot. He'd just been headed by Doctor Phoenix when the latter fell two out at Fairyhouse last time but there looked to be plenty left in the tank.
Gordon Elliott looks to have a strong entry and Barry O'Neill's presence on board Commander Of Fleet suggests he's the stable pick though his victory at Moig South last month came when all three rivals failed to complete. However, he would have won anyway so should go well while Philip Hobbs sends Huntingdon winner That's A Given from the UK and he's greatly respected. Willie Mullins has just one entry and Think Positive has transferred to the yard after finishing fourth for Peter Hedger at Towcester, form that wouldn't be good enough for this though improvement is expected. Katie Walsh is on board Kerrkenny Gold for Mags Mullins though her mount has much more of a stayer's pedigree as does Nina Carberry's mount Seeyouinvinnys but GLOCCA MORA should have enough pace for this. He's by Fame And Glory out of a winning bumper and Joseph O'Brien's charge is handed the vote in a race where the market should tell us more.
6.40 Growise Champion Novice Chase
Al Boum Photo tends to treat the fences with scant respect but is very smart when getting his act together, as he did when beating Shattered Love a length over 2m4f at Fairyhouse. He was held when falling in the RSA at Cheltenham, where MONALEE (NAP) finished runner-up to Presenting Percy, and was also beaten by Henry De Bromhead's charge in the Grade 1 Flogas at Leopardstown. The winner looks more likely to stay the trip and gets the nod though Finian's Oscar, runner-up in the Champion Novice Hurdle here a year ago, bounced back to his best at Aintree after finishing a long way behind Shattered Love in the JLT at the Festival. Rathvinden won the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham so stamina won't be an issue and he could stay on into a place when others have cried enough.
7.15 Dooley Insurances Flat Race
An ordinary-looking bumper in which once again the betting should be monitored for clues. Gordon Elliott won this last year and has a chance of getting one back on Willie Mullins. who surprisingly doesn't have a runner. All three of his entries are newcomers and the 150,000 euros Final List, who is by Doyen, may prove best of them. Patrick Mullins is on board Kalum River for Pat Fahy and his mount is by Fame And Glory out of a winner on the Flat. Sams Profile won a point at Cragmore in which only two finished so this can go to one of the experienced bumper performers. Vinnie The Hoddie took a long time to warm up at Thurles and will know more here while BARRINGTON COURT had some decent performers behind when chasing home the smart Balliniska Band in a Limerick Listed contest. She may just have too much pace for Malinas Jack, who has joined Henry De Bromhead after finishing runner-up in a Cheltenham Listed contest on New Year's Day.
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