Punchestown Festival – Day 1

Punchestown Festival – Day 1 

The highlight of the Irish jumps racing calendar day 1 kicks off with the feature race being the Punchestown Champion Chase. We have you covered with the best Punchestown tips and betting offers.

3.40 Punchestown 2m½f (2m100y) Howden Insurance Brokers Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed Race) (4yo+)

Noel Meade and Dennis O` Regan have combined in the last month for a couple of winners and they look to have another good chance here with The Model Kingdom, her Cheltenham run is best forgotten and a reproduction of her 2^nd place finish here behind Impaire Et Passe should be good enough to see her go very close.

Selection The Model Kingdom

4.15 Punchestown 2m½f (2m100y) KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (5yo+)

Facile Vega is the obvious one here and will be hard to beat no doubt but I’m not one to be playing at short odds and given you can make reasonable case for Diverge still having more to come over hurdles and the emphatic success here 2 starts back then given the prices I`m happy to go with stable mate especially as the former might be reliant on a stronger stamina test.

Selection Diverge

4.50 Punchestown 2m½f (2m100y) Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) (4yo+)

Ultra-competitive handicap and various form lines you can consider, Path D`ororoux disappointed at Cheltenham but it would not be suprise if this previous course winner bounced back with a bigger effort. Mullins and Elliot have a couple under the radar types but the one for me is the JP Mc Manus owned Brazil. Last years Fred Winter winners missed Cheltenham this year and has had a nice pipe opener for this on the flat recently. This race looks to have been the plan for a while and should go well.

Selection Brazil NAP

5.25 Punchestown 2m William Hill Champion Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+)

It`s hard to oppose the Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Energumene here if reproducing anywhere near that performance he should have the measure of these. Stable mate Gentleman De Mee arrives here a fresh horse has form which holds Blue Lord and should fill the place spot.

Selection Energumene – Gentleman De Mee 1-2

6.00 Punchestown 2m½f (2m100y) Goffs Defender Bumper (4-5yo)

Plenty guess work in this bumper, Gordon Elliot runs six and looks to hold a very strong hand. Speculatrix has to be respected after his course and distance success but I will take a chance with Tactical Affair, who is a nice type on paper and has the services of Jamie Codd.

Selection Tactical Affair

6.35 Punchestown 3m½f (3m60y) Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+)

None of these are totally proven over this type of trip however Journey of Me looks one of the more likely ones to appreciate the test and arrives here a fresher horse than most. Henry De Bromhead and Rachel Blackmore continue in fine form.

Selection Journey With Me

7.10 Punchestown 3m1f (Bank) Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Chase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup (5yo+)

A race that won’t take much winning and last years winner Vital Island looks to have a good chance to defend his title providing the ground is not too testing.

Selection Vital Island

7.45 Punchestown 2m½f (2m100y) Oak Lodge Landscapes Flat Race (4yo)

Again, some amount of guess work is involved in this bumper, as usual Elliot and Mullins hold a strong hand but it’s the John Kiely trained Joyeux Vivo who catches the eye. His ridder Mr J L Gleeson is 4 from 9 in the last year and the Kapgarde gelding looks a interesting type for JP Mcmanus.

Selection Joyeux Vivo Next Best

Punchestown Day 1 Place Acca with Bet Goodwin

• The Model Kingdom 3.40 Punchestown – Top 3
• Brazil 4.50 Punchestown – Top 4
• Journey With Me 6.35 Punchestown – Top 2
• Vital Island 7.10 Punchestown – Top 3

Our place acca pays 7.3/1 with Bet Goodwin, check them out and claim your welcome offer here.