Punchestown Day 2

Well what a day that was for the blog yesterday. Don't Touch It won at 16/1 but hopefully some of you got on at 40s. Bamaka Moriviere ran a funny sort of race and to be honest I couldn't believe that he managed to finish 4th and reward each way support (adv 20/1). Zabana (adv 9/2) gained compensation for Cheltenham with an impressive display and finished off the day nicely for us. Below are my selections for day 2.

Race 1

A very tricky handicap gets day 2 of the Punchestown festival under way and a case can be made for any amount of the participants. The one I like at a price is Definite Earl from the Broad yard. This 8yo son of Definite Article is pretty lightly raced for his age, and he has won just one of his 14 starts under rules. That win came in a novice at Ballinrobe (16.5f good) this time last year and he has had a couple of runs to prime him for a summer campaign this season.

He showed that he was approaching peak condition with an excellent effort on unsuitably heavy ground in a novice hurdle at Ballinrobe last time, staying on really well for 2nd (17f heavy). He has shown a clear preference for decent ground and he has that today. He showed he stays the trip with an excellent effort at Sligo (20f yielding) last year in a maiden behind Mells Theatre, and he had previously chased home the progressive Bog War at Fairyhouse in a handicap (16f good) off 102. He is off a mark of 114 today on his return to handicap company and I think he could be set for a big run at odds of 20/1.

STEVOS' SELECTION: DEFINITE EARL E/W 20/1 nap

Race 2

Having backed Balko Des Flos at Cheltenham and Aintree I was nearly tempted to go back to the well for a third time today. I'm not convinced that the drop to 20f will suit him though and for that reason I'll be opposing him. I don't have a very strong opinion on this race but at a double figure price Val De Ferbet could run well for rookie trainer Andy McNamara.

This 7yo son of Voix Du Nord ran a lovely race last time on yielding at Thurles (24f) when he chased home Jennies Jewel. He is a dual chase winner over 3m, including a Grade 2 at Limerick last year. He won his only hurdle back when he was trained in France (17.5f soft) and he was a good 4th in this race 2 years ago. La Vent D'Antan and Cheltenian were among the horses in front of him that day and this year's renewal doesn't look as strong. He is the 2nd highest rated in the field at 142 and he is the each way suggestion at 10/1 in an open looking race.

STEVOS' SELECTION: VAL DE FERBET E/W 10/1

Race 3

The first Grade 1 of day 2 is a 24f Novice Hurdle and this is another very open looking race. Acapella Bourgeois is highly rated by connections and they are expecting a big run. I'm not sure about the step up in trip though and at 5/1 he looks a bit skinny.

One horse that could make the frame at a price is Ronnie Wood's horse Sandymount Duke. He is rated 136 so he has a fair bit to find with some of these, but he could run well stepped into Graded company for the first time. His yard couldn't be going any better and Jessie Harrington did us a big favour yesterday with Don't Touch It. He has won here before, is proven at the trip and he prefers good ground. He won first time up last year so his lack of a recent run isn't a worry and at his current odds of 20/1 he is worth chancing each way.

STEVOS' SELECTION: SANDYMOUNT DUKE E/W 20/1

Race 4

The feature race on Day 2 is the Gold Cup and Cue Card is a warm order to follow up on his magnificent Aintree win. However, just like the beaten Mullins' hotpots yesterday this fella has had a hard season and it could be a bit too much to ask for him to come out and win this just 20 days after his Liverpool victory.

Carlingford Lough swerved Aintree and comes here after an excellent effort in 4th in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. His sole start over course and distance resulted in an easy win and he loves decent ground. He will be a fresher horse than most of these and this has probably been his target all season. He looks a huge price at 22/1 and he will be staying strongly on at the finish. He has a bit to find on the ratings but he is a useful horse and he is the each way suggestion in what should be a cracking contest.

STEVOS' SELECTION: CARLINGFORD LOUGH E/W 22/1

Race 5

This is a devilishly difficult puzzle to solve and Moon Racer is the market leader at 2/1 for David Pipe. He is unbeaten and loves good ground but he hasn't been seen for over a year and at just 2/1 he doesn't appeal. I don't have a strong fancy here and this is a race that I will just watch and enjoy.

Race 6

This is a competitive looking handicap chase and my old friend Croco Bay is in Ireland to take his chance. He has finally been dropped a few pounds by the handicapper and he can make his presence felt off a mark of 142. He has had just 3 runs this season and he will be a lot fresher than some of his rivals.

Trip and ground should be fine and he is capable of producing a big run. He fell pretty early at Cheltenham so he didn't have a hard race, and he ran alright behind Katachenko at Aintree last time off 147.  I am giving him one more chance at odds of 20/1 for a trainer that sent out Deep Trouble to win at this very festival back in 2014.

STEVOS' SELECTION: CROCO BAY E/W 20/1 nb

Race 7

I have no strong fancy here and I will be sitting this one out.