The Punchestown Festival kicks off with a bang on Tuesday as three Grade 1s are staged across the cards. GG tipster Joe Napier gives his four best bets, including a Cheltenham Festival winner to down a Willie Mullins favourite.
3.05 Punchestown – Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final Handicap
Plenty for the home team arrive in good form for this, but it was notable how impressively a British raider won this last season, with one of his stablemates finishing third. As a result, the visitors are of greater consideration, with CRAZIERTHANDAISY the standout.
Nicky Henderson’s mare is yet to finish outside of the first three under rules, despite being far from a star performer within Seven Barrows. Yet she could easily prove better than her handicap mark currently, having run solid races, including in two victories, from her five hurdles runs.
Most significantly, she looked set to do battle right to the end on her handicap bow at Wetherby before making a bad mistake at the last. She meets the winner that day, Blue Hop, on 4lb better terms here and looks a more likely improver given she is two years younger, and might be a more natural fit for this trip.
3.40 Punchestown – Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle
There have been greater fish for Willie Mullins to fry in the race for the British trainers’ title of late, but it is still noteworthy that his only runner in a race he has won in four of the last six seasons here is HUNTERS YARN, who reverts to hurdles for this handicap. Three of those four victors went off at double-figure prices, so the initial black of market confidence is not off-putting.
The eight-year-old has been miles below his best this term, but he did not look a natural jumper of a fence as a novice, which has largely been borne out this season too. However, he has been given some tough assignments off handicap marks in the 150s over the bigger obstacles, but goes back hurdling off a rating of just 140.
Given he won at Listed level as a novice hurdler, as well as finishing second in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse that same season, that could be very lenient. As the only Closutton representative, there must be some confidence he will go well back over timber and he is versatile regarding ground conditions.
4.50 Punchestown – Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1)
Paul Townend would have had to stick with Ballyburn as a show of faith, but his head carriage and jumping may only make things extremely awkward for him once again here. Willie Mullins has made sure, as was the case in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham, that there is plenty of able backup, including the winner of that contest in LECKY WATSON.
Although not as strikingly talented as his more vaunted stablemate, but he is unbeaten over fences, scoring at Naas and in a Punchestown Grade 3 before arriving at Cheltenham seemingly as the fourth string of four. However, his more assured jumping and stamina won the day comfortably.
With fellow Closutton runner Impaire Et Passe far from certain to appreciate this distance, and the rest having significantly more to prove, he looks by far the safest bet to land the spoils once again.
6.00 Punchestown – William Hill Champion Chase (Grade 1)
Fact To File was blisteringly impressive in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but he has never run over as short a trip as this over fences. He was able to assume a dominant position throughout at Prestbury Park which may not be the case for him facing this distance for the first time.
For all that his talent looks a match for almost any horse, this is far from a cakewalk in terms of his rivals, with MARINE NATIONALE taken to back up his Champion Chase success. The eight-year-old had been steadily building to a crescendo all season and more glory may easily await him now he jumps and travels more smoothly.
Both Senecia and Solness should ensure a rapid gallop, with the latter intriguing too if able to get away from the former pestered in the early exchanges. All it may do is set this up perfectly for the selection though, who can bring the house down on day one.
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