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
15/2
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
It would be difficult to envisage a better lineup for Sunday’s John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown, with a tremendous mix of established A-listers and exciting youngsters set to do battle in the 2m4f Grade 1. The latest instalment in the Galopin Des Champs/Fastorslow rivalry is clearly one of the main themes, while it will be fascinating to see how dual Grade 1 winning novice Fact To File fares as he steps into open company for the first time.
Martin Brassil’s flag-bearer probably deserves to be favourite as he bids to land the prize for the second year running, while looking outside the big three I have a huge amount of time for Spillane’s Tower and was tempted by the 8/1 about Jimmy Mangan’s rising star. However in reality this is a race to simply watch, enjoy and hopefully learn from.
A TIPP FOR GOLD is an interesting candidate for the Pertemps qualifier at 13:15, and while his opening mark of 125 is certainly no gimme the step up to three miles promises to unlock further improvement from this stoutly-bred youngster. He capitalised on an excellent opportunity when landing a maiden hurdle at the Listowel festival and was far from disgraced when tried at Listed level at Limerick last month.
SONNY MAY escaped with an 8lb rise for his recent breakthrough success at Gowran Park and should make a bold bid to follow up in the novice handicap hurdle at 15:00. Denis Hickey’s lightly-raced seven year-old was a major market springer on that occasion after catching the eye on his reappearance at Fairyhouse and the only anxious moment for his supporters would have been when he was briefly short of room in the straight. He settled things pretty readily once in the clear and looked value for a nice bit more than the 3 1/2 length winning margin. Handicap debutante Well Dressed lacks a recent run but is nevertheless feared most.
At Cork, BUCK ROGERS is of definite interest in the 3m handicap hurdle at 15:05, having shaped well on his first start after a huge layoff at Wexford four weeks ago. Cian Quirke’s mount has been given a real chance by the handicapper as he is a stone below his peak rating and he would certainly be an appropriate winner for the day that’s in it given he shares his name with a former John Durkan hero.
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