Thought I'd start a thread for the Punchestown Festival. Should be a great few days of racing, and hopefully we can find some winners!
The first day is arguably the best, as it features what is for many the race of the week, the Boylesports Champion Chase. exciting Novice is taking on Forpadydeplasterer, Kalahari King and Twist Magic, amongst others. Personally I fancy Twist Magic in this, he has been in the form of his life this season (ignore lto, hates Cheltenham), loves the ground, trip is optimum and he won his only previous start at the course. Top novice Sizing Europe obviously has very strong claims also, he too will love the ground, but I reckon he needs to improve again to beat these. I believe he should be in the novices race, I'm not a fan of racing outside novice company until necessary.
I will just have a quick look at the two other grade 1s on the card, first of which is the Champion Novice Hurdle. Favorite is General Miller, who after falling early at Cheltenham, gained compensation at Aintree when beating supreme Novices winner Menorah. However, he had a hard race that day, at this comes only 11 days later, so on that basis alone I feel he can be taken on at a short price. Willie Mullins fields 2 who ran down the field at Cheltenham, Blackstairmountain and Flat Out. The former should like this fast ground, but he has been beaten since Cheltenham (on soft ground). Flat Out is a classy horse, but he will rather further. Sweeps Hill is an interesting contender, he was second to Dunguib in the Champion Bumper here last year (subsequently awarded the race) and is coming into this off a break, so he may be one to keep onside.
The third Grade 1 of the first day is the Champion Novice Chase. The key horse in this race is Zaarito, and whether or not he will jump round. He has fallen on 4 of his 7 starts over fences so far, so obviously backing his has an extra element of risk attached, although this is factored into his price. I believe he will jump better on this faster ground, and there is little doubt he is the classiest horse in the race if doing so. The trip on 3m1f is completely unknown for Zaarito, and there is enough question marks for me to avoid his today. The second favourite is The Midnight Club, who ran very well over an inadequate trip at Cheltenham. He will love the step up in trip, but the ground could be a little faster than ideal. I can tell you he is very strongly fancied, and I will be backing him. Others in the race are Jandanli, who benefited from Zaarito's departure last time in the Powers Gold Cup, but his best form is on soft ground. Saddlers Storm needs to improve markedly, and China Rock is held by Midnight Club on Cheltenham form.
Sorry I couldn't do any of the other races, have to get some study done, but hopefully over the course of the next number of days we will find some nice priced winners in this thread!
Racecards
The first day is arguably the best, as it features what is for many the race of the week, the Boylesports Champion Chase. exciting Novice is taking on Forpadydeplasterer, Kalahari King and Twist Magic, amongst others. Personally I fancy Twist Magic in this, he has been in the form of his life this season (ignore lto, hates Cheltenham), loves the ground, trip is optimum and he won his only previous start at the course. Top novice Sizing Europe obviously has very strong claims also, he too will love the ground, but I reckon he needs to improve again to beat these. I believe he should be in the novices race, I'm not a fan of racing outside novice company until necessary.
I will just have a quick look at the two other grade 1s on the card, first of which is the Champion Novice Hurdle. Favorite is General Miller, who after falling early at Cheltenham, gained compensation at Aintree when beating supreme Novices winner Menorah. However, he had a hard race that day, at this comes only 11 days later, so on that basis alone I feel he can be taken on at a short price. Willie Mullins fields 2 who ran down the field at Cheltenham, Blackstairmountain and Flat Out. The former should like this fast ground, but he has been beaten since Cheltenham (on soft ground). Flat Out is a classy horse, but he will rather further. Sweeps Hill is an interesting contender, he was second to Dunguib in the Champion Bumper here last year (subsequently awarded the race) and is coming into this off a break, so he may be one to keep onside.
The third Grade 1 of the first day is the Champion Novice Chase. The key horse in this race is Zaarito, and whether or not he will jump round. He has fallen on 4 of his 7 starts over fences so far, so obviously backing his has an extra element of risk attached, although this is factored into his price. I believe he will jump better on this faster ground, and there is little doubt he is the classiest horse in the race if doing so. The trip on 3m1f is completely unknown for Zaarito, and there is enough question marks for me to avoid his today. The second favourite is The Midnight Club, who ran very well over an inadequate trip at Cheltenham. He will love the step up in trip, but the ground could be a little faster than ideal. I can tell you he is very strongly fancied, and I will be backing him. Others in the race are Jandanli, who benefited from Zaarito's departure last time in the Powers Gold Cup, but his best form is on soft ground. Saddlers Storm needs to improve markedly, and China Rock is held by Midnight Club on Cheltenham form.
Sorry I couldn't do any of the other races, have to get some study done, but hopefully over the course of the next number of days we will find some nice priced winners in this thread!
Racecards
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