Tuesday 30th April 2024
Author: Jordan Yates (jordan_yates)
3.40 Punchestown: KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle: My first selection of the day and of the Punchestown Festival comes in the 3.40 which is the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle over two miles and half of a furlong. I find it hard to get away from the Supreme winner Slade Steel here for Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. He looks rock-solid at the top of the market here and will come into the race relatively fresh having not been to Aintree following his Cheltenham success. There likely is a lot more to come from him and he’s the one they have to beat here. Slade Steel – 13/8 (Win) (NB)
4.15 Punchestown: Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle: Next up from Punchestown will be the 4.15 which is a listed handicap hurdle that’s contested over two miles and half of a furlong. I’m with Daddy Long Legs here for the team of Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. He was only seen at Ludlow last week when winning hard-held at skinny odds and I think he could prove to be the old saying of a “graded horse in a handicap” here. He’s the choice of Paul Townend out of the Mullins runners and I think he could prove to be a cut above. Daddy Longs Legs – 4/1 (Win)
4.35 Nottingham: British EBF Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes: I have one selection away from Punchestown on the day and that’s from Nottingham in the Listed Nottinghamshire Oaks over a mile and two furlongs. I’m chancing Sea Of Roses here who’s currently 7/2 chance for Andrew Balding and Jason Watson. She was placed in Group 3 & Listed company last year whilst also trying her hand in higher grades, and I think this type of contest looks like her level. She also has the added bonus of a reappearance run when finishing a slightly underwhelming fourth of five at Kempton in Listed company earlier in the month. She should come on for that though and I think she’s a player in this. Sea Of Roses – 7/2 (Win)
5.25 Punchestown: William Hill Champion Chase: It’s back over to Punchestown for my fourth selection of the afternoon and that comes in the Grade 1 Champion Chase over two miles and half of a furlong. I find it hard to get away from Dinoblue here for the combination of Willie Mullins and Mark Walsh. She was narrowly denied at Cheltenham in the Mares Chase by Limerick Lace, however, the ground possibly went against her that day and it should be slightly better here. She also gets the weight allowance off her rivals in this particular assignment and if she turns up in the same kind of form as her seven-and-half success over Gentleman De Mee in Grade 1 company at Christmas she’ll be very tough to beat. Dinoblue – 2/1 (Win) (NAP)
6.00 Punchestown: Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase: My fifth and final pick of the day comes in the 6.00 at Punchestown which is more Grade 1 action in the Champion Novice Chase over three miles and a furlong. I’ve sided with Embassy Gardens in this who’s another one for Willie Mullins and this time the mount of Paul Townend. He was well-fancied at Cheltenham in the National Hunt Chase but had to settle for a distant second behind Corbetts Cross. He wasn’t really put into the race on that occasion and I think a drop back down in trip should see him to best effect, he beat Sandor Clegane over this distance in a Grade 3 back in January by ten lengths and a return to that sort of form gives him a solid chance. Embassy Gradens – 5/1 (Each-Way)
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