It was an interesting first day at Punchestown with just one of my picks winning. Echoes In Rain won the 4.15 the 8/13 favourite came home by 3 1/4 lengths. Allaho was 2nd,the 6/4 chance was beaten by the 6/5 favourite Chacun Pour Soi who impressively won by 5 1/2 lengths and there was a shock in the 6.30 with the big head-to-head of the week not quite living up to expectations,Envoi Allen was pulled up 2 out and Monkfish the 10/11 favourite had nothing extra on the run-in and was beaten by the only other horse to finish the 7/1 shot Colreevy who finished 8 lengths in front.
It's day 2 of the Punchestown festival on Wednesday with 3 more group one's, the first is the 5.20 when 8 begin the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle. Galopin Des Champs showed he was much improved when an impressive 2 1/4 length winner of the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival last time out,he moves up to 3 miles here but definitely has the stamina to deal with it. Vanillier romped to a 11 length win in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (Spa) at Cheltenham and being open to further improvement makes him a challenger. The other one to be respected is Telmesomethinggirl who won the Dawn Run Mares Novices Hurdle by 5 1/2 lengths 41 days ago,she kept on well that day and should go well again. At 5.55 7 start the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup Chase. 3 of the field standout here,Al Boum Photo was a creditable 3rd to Minella Indo in his bid for a third Cheltenham Gold Cup however he is a top-class chaser and very much the one to beat. Kemboy picked up his 4th group one win taking the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown back in February, he was 9th in the Cheltenham version but this test will suit him better as he won this race in 2019. Clan Des Obeaux was an impressive back-to-back winner of the King George in 2018 and 2019 and stormed to a 26 length victory in the Bowl Chase at Aintree 20 days ago and a big run is expected here. The final big race of day 2 comes at 6.30 when 8 line-up for the ITM Supporting Irish Store Sales Champion I.N.H. Flat. Two Willie Mullins horses renew a rivalry here and are the standout pair,Sir Gerhard made all the running to win the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival by 1/2 a length from his stablemate Kilcruit who goes again here,he looked impressive when winning a grade 2 at Leopardstown in February by 12 lengths and was unlucky at Cheltenham but he should take his revenge here.
Big race predictions: 5.20: 6: Galopin Des Champs 5.55: 1: Al Boum Photo 6.30: 3: Kilcruit.
No comments:
Post a Comment