Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown Festival Day Two

The Punchestown Festival continues with three more mouth-watering Grade One races, including the €250,000 Punchestown Gold Cup.

As ever, Willie Mullins in well represented in all three races and a clean sweep for the perennial Irish champion trainer is by no means out of the question.

 

5:20 Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle

Vanillier beat Streets Of Doyen, Stattler, Torygraph by 12½ lengths, 15¼ lengths and 20 lengths, respectively, in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and, barring accidents, there appears no reason why he should not confirm that form. Later that same afternoon, Galopin Des Champs readily beat the previous Imperial Cup winner, Langer Dan, in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle and, while he has his stamina to prove over 3 miles, has very little to find on official ratings. Indeed, Willie Mullins’ 5-year-old appeared to improve for the step up to 2 miles 4½ furlongs on that occasion and the way that he kept on in the closing stages strongly suggested an extra 3½ furlongs is with his compass. If he does, he could yet improve again after just five starts and makes no little appeal.

Selection: Galopin Des Champs (3/1 with Paddy Power)

 

5:55 Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup

Minella Indo, Al Boum Photo and Kemboy, who finished first, third and ninth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, re-oppose on identical terms, albeit over a slightly shorter distance, and are joined by Betway Bowl winner Clan Des Obeaux. It was difficult not to be impressed with the latter, who won as he pleased, by 26 lengths, but his earlier form suggests that he may struggle to beat Al Boum Photo, or Kemboy, for that matter, even allowing for the fact that 3 miles 2½ furlongs on the New Course at Cheltenham stretches his stamina. Al Boum Photo has 5½ lengths to find with Minella Indo on Cheltenham Gold Cup running and, having been outpaced on the run to the second last on that occasion may, once again, struggle to keep tabs on his old rival in the closing stages. Minella Indo is the obvious one, but Kemboy is a decent performer on his day and, back on home soil, may be capable of springing a minor surprise.

Selection: Kemboy (13/2 with Bet365)

 

6:30 ITM – Supporting Irish Store Sales Champion INH Flat Race

Sir Gerhard and Kilcruit finished first and second in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, separated by just half a length, and it will be a surprise if one of them doesn’t win. The unbeaten Sir Gerhard was having his first run for Willie Mullins at Cheltenham, after being transferred from the disgraced Gordon Elliott just over a fortnight earlier, so may have more improvement left than his stable companion, who is undoubtedly talented, all the same. The once raced O’Toole is bred to be smart and falls into the ‘could be anything’ category but, frankly, it’s hard to see far beyond a Mullins 1-2.

Selection: Sir Gerhard (11/8 with Bet365)

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