Well what a day! As tipped, Be Positive took the opener of the 2014 Punchestown Festival with a terrific ride by top lady jockey Nina Carberry, and the winners just kept coming.
Faugheen showed unbelievable class to take the Novice Hurdle, and some are already asking if it’s the best hurdler Willie Mullins has trained. Based on that outing, it’s quite possible.
Coming to the second last, the jump was so superb that he landed some four or five lengths clear of the pack, jockey Ruby Walsh just had to trot him home and he was still some 11 to 12 lengths clear.
It was a masterful display and Faugheen barely broke a sweat against a decent field. Already 6/1 on for next year’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, he might seriously be worth the punt.
As I predicted yesterday Cool MacAvity, at a big price, took the handicap. Hidden Cyclone was a faller some five fences out in the next, even though he was looking good at the time.
The crowd were elated to see the old timer Sizing Europe take the Champion Chase and nobody would have denied him the win, taking it in such a manner that the jockey Andrew Lynch was left in tears coming back into the parade ring. Again another winner was had here, as my place bet Ballynagour landed at a hefty 8/1.
I still hate bumpers! I didn’t have a hope in either I’m afraid, but with most bookies paying up to four places, you may have been lucky enough to have had my tip Ustica in the places. Finally, in the Novice Chase, my top tip Djakadam was pulled before the race, but thankfully at 5/1 my second tip Carlingford Lough landed the top spoils. So all in all six of the seven races landed either a win or a place yesterday. You just gotta love Punchestown!
So onwards and well upwards I hope. Today’s racing has a few crackers in store and hopefully I can find you a few more winners!
Martinstown Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle
The opener is a 28-horse field of a hurdle handicapper.
Easy Peasy I hear you say? Well not really! At the moment the money is coming for Highbrow Blue and Sea Light, but I really quite like the look of Sort it Out. The horse was much improved when winning the 15-runner handicap hurdle at Gowran last month. He failed to fire at Cork last time out, but it’s still early days.
Currently trading at 10/1.
Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle
Caught between two in this one.
I think Le Vent D’Antan and Beluckyagain will finish in that order! The gut says this will be another for the Mullins yard and I have no fear of top jockey Paul Townend taking the ride on Le Vent D’Antan. Should be a cracker of a race.
Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
This is the first of today’s Grade 1 races and any of the top three could take the spoils.
Beat That, Don Poli and Very Wood are all top horses, but I think this will be Mullin’s again. Don Poli has shown himself to be a promising type, posting a very smart effort when completing a hat-trick in Martin Pipe at last month’s Chetenham Festival.
More to come and looks sure to make a bold bid back in novice company.
Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1)
The Grade 1s just keep coming!
Boston Bob was back to his best at Aintree at the beginning of the month, but in this one I’m going to go for the superb First Lieutenant.
There is quality in all of the 10 horses on show here and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Argocat at a biggish price run into the places.
Attheraces.Com Champion I.N.H. Flat (Grade 1)
Yikes! It’s a bumper up next.
Silver Concorde was fantastic in the Champion Bumper in Cheltenham last month, but I don’t think he will get the better of Black Hercules this time.
The latter will have improved considerably for that run. At a bigger price I wouldn’t be surprised to see Aminabad run into the places
Guinness Handicap Chase (Grade A)
This is a really decent handicap up next.
To be fair this could go to one of maybe six runners. I would back either Gift Of Dgab, Grandioso or Hector’s Choice, with Grandioso just edging favouritism.
O’Reilly Recruitment I.N.H. Flat
Another Bumper to close today’s proceedings.
It’s an 18-horse field so I’m punting each way here again and plumping for Virtuoso Rouge.
Hopefully Day Two will prove as profitable as Day One has been!
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