The week began with my selection Hms Seahorse coming 4th. The 1/1 favourite chased the leaders and was 5th two out,he moved up to 4th but was bumped slightly inside the final furlong he made no further impression with the 10/1 shot Fourhometwo winning.
Five days of top-class action at Punchestown begins on Tuesday with 3 group one's,the first is at 4.15 when 5 line-up for the Ecomm Merchant Solutions Champion Novice Hurdle. The two standout horses in this one are both trained by Willie Mullins. Echoes In Rain romped home by 15 lengths in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse 23 days ago he looked excellent that day and could make it 3 wins in a row here while Blue Lord will look to bounce back after falling while second in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham when last seen and if he has recovered well it should be a precession for these two. At 5.25 7 start the William Hill Champion Chase. Allaho led from start to finish to win the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham by an impressive 12 lengths and is the leading player here ahead of stablemate Chacun Pour Soi who was a respectable 3rd in the Queen Mother Champion Chase,he had picked up a hat-trick of wins before that and on his best form he will definitely challenge. The other one to have a strong claim is Nube Negra who was unlucky not to win the Queen Mother only losing to Put The Kettle On by 1/2 a length so can't be discounted here. The last big race of day 1 is at 6.30 when just 4 begin the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase. Despite the small field this has to be one of the most eagerly anticipated novice chases for a long while with two outstanding horses going head-to-head. Monkfish made it 7 wins in a row coming home by 6 1/2 lengths to land the Brown Advisory Novices Chase at Cheltenham when last seen and should be hard to beat here although Envoi Allen will have something to say about that, he was unbeaten (winning 11 in a row) until he fell early when the 4/9 favourite in the Marsh Novices Chase. That won't dent his confidence and this will be one of the races of the festival.
Big race predictions: 4.15: 5: Echoes In Rain 5.25: 1: Allaho 6.30: 3: Monkfish.
These are just my choices from a difficult card to pick any winners from this is just a festival to sit back and enjoy.
No comments:
Post a Comment