Punchestown Festival Day 2 Preview And Tips

Veinard travelled well for quite a long way for us earlier but Denis O' Regan's decision to go for the brave man's route up the inner didn't pay off. The gaps that he needed never materialised and Veinard was all dressed up with nowhere to go as they turned for home. He is a horse that has plenty of ability but his hold up style means he is often a hostage to fortune. He will pop up at a big price some day when everything falls right. There is a quality card on Day 2 at Punchestown and I have previewed the action below. 

Killaro Boy looks chucked in off 114 on his return to hurdles.

Race 1


The opening race on the second day of the Punchestown festival is a 21f handicap hurdle and regular readers of this blog will know my selection well. Killaro Boy was a massive fancy of mine for the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse three weeks ago but he was brought down in the early stages through no fault of his own. Thankfully he was none the worse for his tumble and Adrian Murray has decided to revert to hurdles. It could prove to be a shrewd move.

Killaro Boy has a rating of 134 over fences and in my opinion that mark underestimates him on the form of his beginners’ chase romp at Fairyhouse last year (20f gd/yld). I think he is at least 10lb better than that on the evidence of that win so off 114 today he looks absolutely chucked in. Talented claimer Paul O’Brien takes off a further 2lb so off an effective rating of 112 I think he is going to be extremely hard to beat, especially back on half decent ground. At odds of 14/1 he is my each way NAP of the day, and possibly the week.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: KILLARO BOY E/W @ 14/1 NAP

Race 2

With an official rating of 142 Sire Du Berlais should be winning this for Gordon Elliott and Barry Geraghty. On the figures the Willie Mullins trained mare Pravalaguna could give him most to do, but at a much bigger price I think JP McManus’ ‘second string’ Rock De Baune could hit the frame for John Kiely with Mark Walsh in the saddle. This French import flopped on his Irish debut at Navan in a Listed heat but he is entitled to strip a lot fitter now.

This 4yo son of Saddex is one of the least exposed runners in the field and he will be running over 20f for the first time here. His win in France came over 17.5f on very soft ground at Auteuil and he looked in need of every inch of the trip to score that day, staying on strongly late. The form of that race looks strong with the placed horses running well in Grade 1 company next time out. I think this gelding has solid place claims on the evidence of that win and at odds of 22/1 he is worth chancing each way.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: ROCK DE BAUNE E/W @ 22/1
 

Paul Nolan has his string in good form.

Race 3

The first Grade 1 on the card at Punchestown on Day 2 is a 3 mile hurdle for novices. It is no surprise to see Next Destination chalked up as the 15/8 favourite after a fine effort behind Samcro over 21f at Cheltenham, staying on strongly up the hill for 3rd. He shaped as though 3 miles would suit that day and under fire jockey Paul Townend takes the ride. He looks the most likely winner but I will take him on with one at a price each way.

Wexford handler Paul Nolan has had a good spell in the last few weeks and I think Discorama could surprise with a good run here. This son of Saddler Maker chased home Blow By Blow at a huge price at Cheltenham, staying on strongly from the rear late on. He only has 5L to find with that rival who re-opposes here and he had previously beat him when winning his maiden at Fairyhouse. A strongly run 3 miles should suit Discorama and at odds of 25/1 he could go well for Kevin Sexton.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: DISCORAMA E/W @ 25/1
 

Road To Respect is a worthy favourite.

Race 4

The feature race at the Punchestown Festival today is the Grade 1 Punchestown Gold Cup. A field of 13 horses go to post for this 24.5f chase and to be honest, I have seen much stronger renewals. It is not hard to pick holes in the form of some of the market leaders and my Cheltenham Gold Cup fancy Road To Respect is definitely the one to beat. He looks by far the most solid of those at the head of the market and his odds of 9/4 are fully justified for Noel Meade with Sean Flanagan in the saddle.

Bellshill ran well for a long way on heavy ground in the Irish National but he finished a tired horse and the race could have taken its toll on him. Killultagh Vic undoubtedly has an engine but his jumping is hit and miss and he is never one for maximum faith. Djakadam looks a shadow of the horse he once was while Total Recall is another with questions to answer after a couple of non completions.

I think the each way value for this contest lies with Edwulf, a horse that has a fine record at Punchestown. He finished well beaten in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham but he would have finished a bit closer only for being hampered at the 3rd last. His two chase starts here resulted in a win and a 2nd and he proved his Grade 1 credentials with a fine win at Leopardstown in February (Djakadam 10L behind). At odds of 12/1 he is a viable each way alternative to the favourite.

STEVOS’ SELECTIONS: ROAD TO RESPECT @ 9/4 NB EDWULF E/W @ 12/1

Race 5

I am not a big fan of betting on bumpers but I can’t resist having an each way interest on Tom Lacey’s 4yo son of Schiaparelli Dorking Boy. Lacey has his string in stupendous form and this fella, out of a sister to Champion Bumper winner Ballyandy, made a big impression on me with the manner of his win on debut at Market Rasen.

Dorking Boy cruised into the lead 3F out in that contest on heavy ground and Richard Johnson was sitting motionless as the rest were hard at work. He simply pushed Dorking Boy out under hands and heels as they hit the furlong pole and he bounded clear for a facile victory. It is hard to know just how strong the form is but visually he was hugely impressive, he is bred to be a Graded horse and at odds of 20/1 he is the each way selection.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: DORKING BOY E/W @ 20/1
 

Viconte Du Noyer could bounce back returned to Punchestown.

Race 6

The Grade A 20f Guinness handicap chase is the penultimate race on Day 2 of the Punchestown Festival and a field of 18 have been declared for this ultra competitive heat. On a going day, Champagne West would have a great chance off a mark of 156 but the 10yo son of Westerner hasn’t fired at all this season and he is best watched until he shows some of his old spark.

Colin Tizzard will be fuming after Al Boum Photo scuppered Finian's Oscar’s chance in the big race on Tuesday but Vicente Du Noyer could put a smile back on his face here. This son of Martaline has been badly out of form this season and he was pulled up on his last two outings. He was a fine 2nd in this last year off 148 after being pulled up at Cheltenham and this race has probably been his target for the season. He is 5lb lower than for last year’s fine effort and at odds of 25/1 he is worth chancing each way for small stakes.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: VICONTE DU NOYER E/W @ 25/1

Race 7


No bet for me in this mares’ bumper.