The Irish horse racing broadcaster offers his selections across Saturday and Sunday’s racing at Punchestown.
SATURDAY
Punchestown will justifiably be thrilled with the line-up for Saturday’s Morgiana Hurdle, and in light of Constitution Hill’s latest travails the reigning champion hurdler State Man has an excellent opportunity to strengthen his grip on the division with an eleventh Grade 1 win.
Willie Mullins’ hugely likeable seven-year-old is chasing a hat-trick in the feature event on the opening day of this festival fixture, but faces a couple of seriously talented mares in the shape of Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead. The latter has race fitness on her side after scoring at Down Royal but it is Patrick Mullins’ mount in particular who appeals as having the potential to be a major force on the two-mile scene this season after her exploits last term. Provided she is at a similar level of fitness I would expect her to prove a major threat to her stable-companion.
Outside of the feature, the obvious highlight is Ballyburn’s initial foray over fences in the beginners event at 12:30. Willie Mullins has used this race to launch the chasing careers of luminaries like Faugheen and Gaelic Warrior in the past, and such is the impression this Flemensfirth gelding created as a novice hurdler that he can already be regarded as every bit as good a prospect as those illustrious former Closutton inmates. Anything other than an easy win would constitute a huge shock.
CADATHARLA
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is one to pay close attention to if the market speaks in his favour ahead of the valuable 2m5f handicap chase at 13:35. The six-year-old has been a slow burner over fences so far but picked up some useful handicap experience at the Fairyhouse and Punchestown festivals in the spring and is definitely on an exploitable mark if fit enough for his reappearance. Aidan Kelly partnered him to his only previous success so Mark Walsh’s presence on Magic Tricks shouldn’t necessarily be viewed as a negative.
Try as I did, I was unable to come up with a solid bet in any of the other races on the card. The opening two maidens are complicated by dark horses from powerful yards, while the handicap hurdle at 14:50 is full of lightly-raced unexposed types. Let’s keep the powder dry until tomorrow!
SUNDAY
Check back later for Sunday’s selections.
Visit Betway’s horse racing page.
