Two more Grade 1s are contested on the final day of the Punchestown Festival on Saturday. GG tipster Joe Napier has picked out his best bets throughout the card, including some Closutton second strings to upset the markets.
2.30 Punchestown – Howden Cross Country Chase
It has not hindered some recent winners of this to have raced in the La Touche Cup on the Thursday as well as this banks race on Saturday, but the one to appeal most with freshness on his side is CHEMICAL ENERGY, for whom this could represent ideal conditions.
The nine-year-old is a significantly better horse on quicker ground, recording his two chase victories on good going while also placing in the Munster National on good earlier in the season. That was easily his best chase run of the season and shows this 3m distance suits him.
He took time to take to cross country courses, but was right in contention in the Cheltenham Festival banks contest until fading sharply up the run-in. However, that was over nearly five furlongs further than this Punchestown race, and he gets weight from all bar three of his rivals.
3.05 Punchestown – Oaklodgelandscapes.ie Handicap Chase
This race was won last year by THE GRADUAL SLOPE and it could be a similar situation this season as well. Despite having never raced beyond 3m½f in advance of the 2024 renewal, he thoroughly defied any stamina doubts to claim his first chase success by a neck.
He was not clinging on either, instead claiming the lead only just before the line. He has understandably found life tougher since, but Sean O’Brien has campaigned him back below 3m once again, and even then he ran respectably over 2m4½f at Kilbeggan last June.
HIs handicap mark is only 3lb above last year’s winning run and he has had a recent run to help with his fitness. Although a softer surface would be ideal, yielding going should not inconvenience him as much over this trip and he may well go close again.
4.50 Punchestown – Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1)
Shock 100/1 Triumph Hurdle winner Poniros has become the Willie Mullins number one here, but the manner of that victory is still up for question, while he very much has to back the performance up on just his second hurdles starts. Similarly, though Nicky Henderson’s Lulamba is almost certainly talented, the fact a debutant was able to beat him does raise a couple of doubts.
Willie Mullins’ squad is almost as stacked as it was at Cheltenham. Aintree winner Murcia is interesting, but given Townend deserts her, a chance is taken on one of his at bigger prices in BLUE LEMONS. Danny Mullins’ mount was pulled up in the Triumph on his second hurdles start, but either side, he won easily enough at Gowran Park on his hurdling debut, then bolted in at Fairyhouse two weeks ago.
That victory came by seven lengths in Grade 2 company and he might just be an improving type, with his experience now set to hold him in better stead than it did at Prestbury Park. Given how that race turned into a sweepstake, it is reasonable to chance one in this similar contest.
5.25 Punchestown – Lawlor’s Of Naas Handicap Hurdle
Willie Mullins won four renewals of this race in a row, as well as last year with Chapeau De Soleil. Remarkably, given his pedigree as a trainer, all of his winners went off at 14/1 or bigger, so he is capable of keeping one away from the handicapper’s attention.
Jalila Moriviere is unexposed and could yet take higher order than handicaps, while Hey Sunshine is the choice of Paul Townend, but it is KALIX DELABARRIERE who may be the one for this race. The five-year-old was running in good maiden hurdles earlier this term with plenty of credit, including winning one at Naas.
He also won a bumper against Seo Linn, who has significantly franked that form throughout this campaign. His price might receive some juice after his extremely disappointing handicap debut at Fairyhouse last week when last of 16, but that is an anomaly given his profile and all of Mullins’ runners in that race were well below par. 11 days later, he should strip much fitter with this likely the more significant target.
