Punchestown Festival – Day 2

Punchestown Festival – Day 2

The highlight of the Irish jumps racing calendar day 2 kicks off with the feature race being the Punchestown Gold Cup We have you covered with the best Punchestown tips and betting offers.

3.40 Punchestown 2m4f (2m3f180y) Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle (4yo+ 95-123)

A good few in here could be better than there current marks and one who could be open to plenty more progress now upped in trip on handicap debut is Cillians Charm. A winner of a maiden hurdle 2 starts back which ahs worked out well he has not been seen since finishing 3^rd in a novice at Fariyhouse. Mikey O`Connor is a positive booking and should go well in a open race.

Selection Cillians Charm NAP

4.15 Punchestown 2m4f (2m3f180y) Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final (4yo+)

Sandor Clegane and Three Card Brag have to be respected having finished 3^rd and 5^th at Cheltenham however it’s the Henry De Bromhead Senior Chief who is expected to improve past them both. A course and distance winners here 2 starts ago he has since gone on to win a novice event at Navan.

Selection Senior Chief Next Best

4.45 Punchestown 2m4f (2m3f180y) Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle (4yo+)

Grangeclare West is expected to bounce back from a below par effort when last seen finishing a 21 length sixth at the Dublin Festival. The Presenting gelding has been given plenty of time to get over that race and arrives here a fresher horse than most. A bumper winner here we know he handles the course and is expected to give the Mullins/Townend partnership another Punchestown winner.

Selection Grangeclare West

5.20 Punchestown 3m (2m7f180y) Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+)

Gaelic Warrior, Affordable Fury and Salvador Ziggy all finished second at the Cheltenham Festival. Of the trio it`s the Willie Mullins trained runner who looks the worthy favourite and most likely to take a lot of beating going right-handed. With the favourite being short enough though I`m also happy to have each way play on Whatcouldhavebeen. The mare is progressing with racing and looks like she will improve considerably for the step up to 3 miles for the first time.

Selection Whatcouldhavebeen Each Way

5.55 Punchestown 3m (3m30y) Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1) (5yo+)

There looks no obvious reason why Galopin des Champs and Bravemansgame will be finishing 1-2 as they did at Cheltenham here and cementing themselves as the best 3-mile chasers around. The Willie Mullins runner should hold the edge once again though despite the English raider maybe being better suited to these conditions

Selection Galopin Des Champs

6.30 Punchestown 2m½f (2m70y) Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 1) (4-7yo)

A Dream To Share was an impressive winner at both the Dublin Racing Festival and Cheltenham Festival and it will be a surprise if the JP Mc Manus runner cannot make it hattrick of festival wins and maintain his unbeaten record.

Rath Gaul Boy finished behind the selection at Tipperary and is expected to fill the places.

Selection A Dream To Share

7.05 Punchestown 2m5f (2m5f50y) HSS Hire Handicap Chase (Grade A) (5yo+)

Willie Mullins holds a strong hand here and Ha D`or will find this easier than the Arkle last time. That said it`s Ilikedwayurthinkin is a solid handicap chaser when at his best and he looked something like that when responding well to first time headgear last time. Gavin Cromwell and Mark Walsh combine and they always need respecting when doing so and if running to a similar level as last time should be in the mix.

Selection Ilikedwayurthinkin

7.45 Punchestown 2m½f (2m70y) Weatherbys General Stud Book Irish EBF Mares Flat Race (Grade 3) (4-7yo)

Bold Reflection was a good winner of a Limerick bumper on her only start under rules to date and whilst nothing has really come out of that race to frank the form such was the manner of the success I`m happy to be with her here. She looks have been kept fresh for this meeting and Jamie Codd being in the saddle is certainly no bad thing.

Selection Bold Reflection

Punchestown Day 2 Treble

• Gaelic Warrior 5.20 Punchestown
• Galopin Des Champs 5.55 Punchestown
• A Dream To Share 6.30 Punchestown

Our treble with QuinnBet pays 4.7/1. Get involved now and you can also claim your exclusive Racing welcome offer.