PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL 2014: Gets underway at 3.40 this afternoon. There are three Grade 1 races on the opening card which includes the reappearance of the exciting and unbeaten Faugheen in the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle at 4.20.
Punchestown gets underway this afternoon with a cracking card.
The latest going, as tweeted by the course this morning is:
Hurdle & chase good to yielding, watering to maintain. Dry and sunny today, light shower possible tonight.
3:40 Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Chase (5yo+, 3m, 18 runners)
A nice, easy, 18 runner chase for punters to solve to start the meeting !! It’s only a race that I will be dipping my toes into (it’s a marathon week after all!) and I’m interested, win and place, on BETDAQ on Kanesh. He is a consistent sort on the hunter chase circuit and comes to this with some good placed efforts under Rules. Linnel is actually the top-rated horse in the race on official ratings but can’t really be in my thinking after a woeful effort at Downpatrick last time out when a 3/1 chance.
4:20 Herald Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (5yo+, Class 1, 2m, 8 runners)
No surprise to see Faugheen trading at around 1.69 on BETDAQ as he bids for win number six from six. He was hugely impressive when winning the Neptune at the Cheltenham Festival, where even a mistake at the second last couldn’t stop his momentum. There are no real negatives to contemplate if you are considering backing him at a short price, except to note that he is being dropped back in distance to the minimum two miles. He won his debut bumper here at Punchestown over two miles (by 22 lengths no less). There’s been plenty of speculation that he may switch to fences but his entry here suggests hurdling remains the current focus with a longer term tilt at the Champion Hurdle being most likely for the Willie Mullins charge.
4:55 bragbet.com Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) (4yo+, 2m, 18 runners)
This is a race that usually throws up a big priced winner and could easily do so again today. A speculative wager on the bottom weight Sea Beat is advised, despite the stable not being in top form. The angle in with Sea Beat is that he well handicapped and, with only three runs so far, capable of further improvement. He beat the odds-on shot Le Vent D’Antan last time out at Fairyhouse. Le Vent D’Antan went on to finish second in a Grade 2, also at Fairyhouse, so the form looks solid enough.
5:30 Boylesports.com Champion Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+, Class 1, 2m, 10 runners)
A much more open renewal this year after the success of Sprinter Sacre (1/9) last season and Sizing Europe (8/13) in 2012. Sizing Europe, now a 12-year-old can’t be completely dismissed here in the place market. He was fourth to Sire De Grugy in the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and on that form is held by Somersby who was second. Hidden Cyclone was another Cheltenham runner-up, but in the longer Ryanair Chase and Somersby is favoured today.
6:05 Goffs Land Rover Bumper (4-5yo, 2m, 20 runners)
So little form to go on which tempers enthusiasm on the betting front. Ustica won well on debut at Newcastle when unconsidered in the market and has since joined Jonjo O’Neil but it’s unlikely he will be good enough to win this with so many interesting debutants. The BETDAQ early market points towards Native Display but it’s a no play race for me.
6:40 Growise Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+, Class 1, 3m 1f, 7 runners)
The final Grade 1 race of the day can go to Djakadam who was still going well before falling in the JLT Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He gets allowances being a five-year-old and is preferred of the Willie Mullins trained trio – all of whom failed to complete last time out.
7:15 Finlay Motor Group Flat Race (4yo, 2m, 19 runners)
Bell Of The Ball was only narrowly beaten on debut at Wexford when a 20/1 chance and I’m playing her opn the BETDAQ place market only at around 6.
SHAMROCK’S BETS:
WIN AND PLACE:Kanesh (3.40 Punchestown)
NAP: Faugheen (4.20 Punchestown)
WIN AND PLACE: Sea Beat (4.55 Punchestown)
WIN: Somersby (5.30 Punchestown)
No bet in the 6.05
WIN: Djakadam (6.40 Punchestown)
PLACE: Bell Of The Ball (7.15 Punchestown)
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