Punchestown
The Punchestown Festival kicks off today and I have the Victor Value day 1 preview for you.
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Here's your Punchestown brief…
Champion Chase winner Marine Nationale takes on Ryanair Chase winner Fact To File in the William Hill Champion Chase (6.00). The former is the specialist two miler but Fact To File is such a strong traveller he shouldn’t be fazed by the drop back in trip.
Fresh from his success in the UK Trainers Championship Willie Mullins will be expecting a big day at the Punchestown Festival. Besides Fact File in the Champion Chase Mullins has a strong grip on the other two Grade 1 contests. The former is the specialist two miler but Fact To File is such a strong traveller he shouldn’t be fazed by the drop back in trip.
Supreme winner Kopek Des Bordes will bid to preserve his unbeaten record over hurdles in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle (4.15). Stablemate and recent Aintree Grade 1 winner Salvator Mundi looks his biggest rival. Just six have been declared for this Grade 1 contest and four of them are trained by Willie Mullins.
The final Grade 1the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (4.50) has nine runners with Willie Mullins saddling five of them including the front three in the betting Brown Advisory winner Lecky Watson, Ballyburn and Impaire Et Passe.
Ballyburn’s jumping let him down in the Brown Advisory. I suspect they will let him stride out in front here and let him get a good sight at his fences. If he can get into a good jumping rhythm, he’ll be tough to beat. His biggest rival might not be Lecky Watson on this occasion but Impaire Et Passe. The latter was let down by his jumping when behind Ballyburn at the Dublin Racing Festival but has since gone onto win the Grade 1 Manifesto Novice Chase (2m 4f) at Aintree. He’s not guaranteed to stay three miles, but I think he will.
Besides the three feature races are also a couple of interesting big field handicap hurdles on the card.
3:05 – Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final – 2m 3 ½f
Bright Legend is 0 from 11 over hurdles but he has placed five times and is competitively weighted on the best of this season’s form. Trainer has booked Harry Cobden for the ride which suggests connections are expecting a big run from the 5-year-old. He’s more a place than a win contender but if you can get 12/1 or bigger he’s worth an each-way play.
3:40 – Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle (Listed) – 2m ½f
Serienmond benefitted from the fitting of the first-time hood when winning a Leopardstown handicap two starts back. Did best of the hold-up horses in a steadily run race when a 2¼ lengths 3rd of 16 to Lord Erskine in listed handicap at Fairyhouse 7 days ago. Three pound out of the handicap but is going the right way over hurdles and should go close if not inconvenienced by the quick turnaround.
Irish Panther is a seven-race maiden over hurdles, but he’s run well on all three starts since joining his present yard. Wasn’t suited by the steady gallop when a 7 lengths 10th of 16 to Kargese in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and is better judged on his1¼ lengths 3rd of 18 to McLaurey in listed handicap at Leopardstown two starts back. He shouldn’t be far away if reproducing the latter form here.
Impero returned from a short break to win a Ballinrobe handicap 18 days ago. Up 6lb in a deeper race demands more improvement from the 6-year-old. The drying ground will help as he looks at his best on a sound surface and he can go close.
Lark In The Mornin last year’s Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle winner was a disappointing 14th of 16 in the County Hurdle last time. He’s better than that performance and a big run should be forthcoming.
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All the best
Darren Power
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