Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown Festival Day One

Dubbed the ‘Irish Cheltenham’, the five-day Punchestown Festival attracts the crème de la crème of National Hunt talent from both sides of the Irish Sea.

A total of 40 races includes 12 at ‘championship’ Grade One level, so we’ll have plenty get our teeth into in the coming week.

 

4:15 eCOMM Merchant Solutions Champion Novice Hurdle

Probably not for the last time this week, Willie Mullins appears to hold all the aces, with Blue Lord officially rated 7lb superior to stable companion Echoes In Rain, who receives a 7lb mares’ allowance. The choice of returning stable jockey Paul Townend, Blue Lord would have finished clear second behind another stable companion, Appreciate It, in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The Blue Bresil gelding has shown his best form on soft or heavy going, but did win on good ground in his native France, so shouldn’t be unduly inconvenienced by slightly faster underfoot conditions. The fact that he has just a course and distance maiden hurdle win to his name this season is misleading, because he has solid Grade One placed form behind not one, but two, Cheltenham Festival winners. He’s a short price but, frankly, it’s a surprise he’s not favourite, so he could represent some value all the same.

Selection: Blue Lord (6/4 with Bet365)

 

5:25 William Hill Champion Chase

Once again, little to choose between two of three Willie Mullins-trained entries, Allaho and Chacun Pour Soi, on official ratings and little to choose between the latter and Nube Negra on their running in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. First Flow deserves credit for finishing a close as he did in that race, especially as he jumped stickily on ground probably softer than ideal. Allaho was impressive when beating subsequent Grade One winner Fakir D’oudairies by 12 lengths in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but has done all his winning at two and a half miles or further. Back on home soil, Chacun Pour Soi is sure to be a tough nut to crack, but at longer odds Nube Negra looks a decent bet to confirm the Queen Mother Champion Chase form.

Selection: Nube Negra (6/1 with Paddy Power)

 

6:30 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase

A disappointing turn-out for a race worth €100,000 in guaranteed prize money, down to sixth place, but perhaps understandable in the presence of Monkfish and Envoi Allen. Monkfish survived an almighty blunder at the final fence when winning the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but was travelling easily at the time and is now 4-4 over fences. He has also won twice at, or beyond, three miles, so looks a worthy favourite. However, Envoi Allen is officially rated 1lb superior and, although he came a cropper at the fourth fence in the Marsh Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, his record of winning all 12 completed starts, including a point-to-point, speaks for itself. Of course, he attempts three miles for the first time, so has his stamina to prove. A similar comment applies to the mare Colreevy but, otherwise, she has little or nothing to find with the principals and looks worth chancing at seemingly generous odds.

Selection: Colreevy (10/1 with Betfred)

 

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