The best week of Irish racing is not even half way done yet, and we've got some great Punchestown tips for Day Three.
Yesterday saw a reminder that English trained horses still have a pulse when Paul Nicholls' Clan Des Obeaux, the two time King George winner, went head to head with the two time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo down the stretch in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup. And it wasn't just a winner for Paul Nicholls either with Clan Des Obeaux selected in yesterday's Punchestown Tips!
Over the course of the week, we've got you covered with Ladbrokes' Punchestown tips for each race of the Festival. Clan Des Obeaux was one of two tipped winners yesterday, adding to three top picks on Day 1. Here's hoping for more of the same in Day 3, which features a wide open feature in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers' Hurdle and the return of one of the most exciting two mile novice chasers we can ever remember. Good luck!
Punchestown Tips - Day Three
3.40 - Specialist Joinery Group Handicap Hurdle
With Tuesday winner Cousin Harry a non-runner, Karawaan could be one for a small each way interest. He was a very smart horse on the flat and looks very leniently treated over hurdles if he can bring that sort of form to the table here on his second handicap start.
Tip: Karawan
Price on Ladbrokes.com: 16/1
4.15 - Pigsback.com Handicap Steeplechase
Unexcepted has always been a horse of huge ability but has clearly been very hard to train, having only his seventh career start today. If he can be produced in top form here by Willie Mullins then a mark of 148 should be well within his compass. Jungle Junction who was a winner at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival is also worth a favourable mention.
Tip: Unexpected
Price on Ladbrokes.com: 7/1
4.50 - Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Steeplechase
Blue Templar can enhance trainer Enda Bolger’s incredible record in this race. He won over these banks twice at the 2019 Festival and this race will have been the target since. He had a lovely prep run over hurdles last time which should leave him spot on for this and he looks far too big a price at 8/1.
Some Neck is favourite on the back of some good runs over the Cheltenham cross-country course this season but is by no means a star and can be taken on.
Tip: Blue Templar
Price on Ladbrokes.com: 8/1
5.25 - Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle
18 March 2021; Flooring Porter, with Danny Mullins up, jump the last on their way to winning The Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham. Photo by Hugh Routledge/Sportsfile
This looks the most open of the championship races this week.
Despite Flooring Porter looking dominant at Cheltenham, the form of his stable so far this week has to be a slight concern, and at the prices, he looks one to take on.
There are a few in this race that are untried over this trip that have the potential to improve for it and James Du Berlais is maybe the most interesting of them. Bought from France for big money he was pitched into the Champion Hurdle on his first start for Willie Mullins where he didn’t go unbacked. That proved to be too much for him to handle but if he can produce what he is clearly showing connections at home here, then 20/1 with 4 places at Ladbrokes looks a decent bet.
Tip: James Du Berlais
Price on Ladbrokes.com: 20/1
6.00 – Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle
Floueur ran a fantastic race on stable debut at the Cheltenham Festival, finishing third in the Martin Pipe. A similar performance would see him very competitive here.
The winner that day was Galopin Des Champs who went on to advertise the form handsomely yesterday with a Grade 1 rout. This will only be Floueur's seventh start over hurdles and there may be reason to believe still that he could develop into a better horse than a handicapper.
Tip: Floueur
Price on Ladbrokes.com: 8/1
6.35 - Ryanair Novice Steeplechase
6 February 2021; Energumene on his way to winnning the Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Not really a betting race with Energumene expected to confirm superiority over these rivals at very prohibitive odds. Captain Guinness, granted a less forceful ride, might be the one to complete the forecast.
Tip: Energumene
Price on Ladbrokes.com: 3/10
7.05 - Close Brothers Mares Novice Hurdle
Magic Daze ran a huge race to be second to stablemate Telmesomethinggirl in the mare’s novice at Cheltenham and should be able to take this for Rachael Blackmore and Henry De Bromhead. She has done nothing but improve so far this season and conditions look to be in her favour. The others all look to have their limitations somewhat exposed and Magic Daze should be hard to beat.
Tip: Magic Daze
Price on Ladbrokes.com: 13/8
7.35 - Grant Thornton (C & G) Flat Race
Dysart Dynamo looked like a smart horse in the making when bolting up at Clonmel recently but still looked quite immature that day so may be worth taking on with Grand Jury. He is a winner of a point-to point and a point-to-point bumper over this course recently. He looks to have plenty of ability and at this point in their careers looks to be a little more streetwise than the likely favourite.
Tip: Grand Jury
Price on Ladbrokes.com: 9/4
SEE ALSO: Monstrous Chacun Pour Soi Demolishes Punchestown Opposition
