Punchestown Day 2

Francie Barrett

Going to spoil this thread by picking one at Epsom instead!

Eddystone Rock put a cracking run in for the Lincoln just three weeks ago on seasonal debut over turf, plugging on well towards the close, probably found the trip a little too short at that sort of level. Dropped 1lb for that run and down in class with a step up in trip that it should appreciate, I think it'll be bang in there at a more than fair price of 12/1 in the 3:50 tomorrow.

Francie Barrett

5:50 Lingfield - this one is a bit of a punt, but I am hoping that a change of yard can do the world of good for Silver Wings at 7/1 tomorrow. Leaving the rotten out of form Roger Ingram yard where it had utterly wretched form, it goes back to David Evans who had it competing in listed races less than two years ago. Dropped from a career high of 87 down to just 60 tomorrow (effectively 53 thanks to a 7lb claimer on board) - if it can't turn things around tomorrow, then I don't think it ever will. Goes without saying, win only.

Francie Barrett

Punchestown 4:20 - Milsean was a smart looking staying hurdler for Willie Mullins, but since the Gigginstown split has been badly out of sorts with Mouse Morris, so no surprise to see it moving on to the bang in form Elliot yard. Elliot won't have had a whole pile of time to get this one right for today, but would be kicking myself if this one came home tomorrow so going to have a small win only bet on this at 11/1.

hawkeyethenoo

all over Fayonagh tomorrow.

Stheno

Francie Barrett wrote: »

Punchestown 4:20 - Milsean was a smart looking staying hurdler for Willie Mullins, but since the Gigginstown split has been badly out of sorts with Mouse Morris, so no surprise to see it moving on to the bang in form Elliot yard. Elliot won't have had a whole pile of time to get this one right for today, but would be kicking myself if this one came home tomorrow so going to have a small win only bet on this at 11/1.

hawkeyethenoo wrote: »

all over Fayonagh tomorrow.

I've bets on both Milsean and fayonagh

Also have a couple of accumulators for the first time

BorneTobyWilde

Black Zero 20-1 3.40

I like this EW. Comes here in consistent form.
With 5 places it has tempted me.

WickIow Brave

Djakadam today in the Gold Cup. I think there's a chance Sizing John might run below form having had 4 races since Christmas to Djakadam's two.

HarshOstrich

Djakadam is some cliff horse on here

WickIow Brave

HarshOstrich wrote: »

Djakadam is some cliff horse on here

I've only ever backed him once before when he lost to Coneygree.

Massimo Tara

Would you give outlander a chance today?

WickIow Brave

Massimo Tara wrote: »

Would you give outlander a chance today?

I think Djakadam has him covered on John Durkan form. I know Outlander beat Djakadam in the Lexus but I think Djakadam would reverse the form with a different ride. I'm relying on Sizing John running below form which he did at Punchestown last year, granted he also did Aintree but he went straight to the Arkle after Christmas. This year he did the Kinloch Brae and Irish Gold Cup between.

WickIow Brave

Also done Minella Till Dawn (11/4) and Al Boum Photo e/w (9/1)

beertons

Penhill@5/2
Battleford@13/8
First to Boogie@20/1
Djakadam@10/3
Fayonagh@2/1
Polodim@3/1
Mystic Theatre@3/1

5c super heinz ew, 12 yoyo's pays 12.5k.

WickIow Brave

Polidam is meant to be an absolute certainty. I've backed Mystic Theatre in the last aswell (4/1).

Massimo Tara

Al boum photo 8/1
Minutestillmidnight 5/2 -
Robin'hannon 3/1 - 15.05 at Perth. He was really impressive lto in his first run and he's up against horses who've had tough races this season.

Billy Reid

Penhill and djack for me.... singles

posturingpat

HarshOstrich wrote: »

Djakadam is some cliff horse on here

I was quite outspoken about him having no chance of winning at Cheltenham but I'd give him half a chance here.

Copper_pipe

The opening race on day 2 of the Punchestown festival is a very tricky looking race. Lot’s of these have chances. Drumcliff the favourite has not lived up to expectation. He beat the now graded winner Capitaine on debut but since then he has proven disappointing. He has potential to be better but he’s a very frustrating horse to follow. He’s not for me. Fridaynightlights would be the one they would all have to beat in this if he gets into the race, he’s currently a reserve though. Shamiran loves it here and loves this race. He has won this race 3 years in the past. Hasn’t been in the best of form of late but I wouldn’t worry about that, he has won this race on the back of poor form. You should watch this one closely in the market for clues. A Rated should not be the price that he is currently. This horse has run some solid races in bumpers and novice hurdles without winning. His 3rd to Presenting Percy and Battleford in a bumper is decent form as his his 4th last time out in a novice hurdle behind Mossback. He’s having his handicap debut today off a nice mark and I think he could run a big race. I’m going to put up two horses for this race, both each way at huge prices. They are SHAMIRAN ★ (E.W) 25/1 and A RATED ★ (E.W) at 33/1.

The 2nd race on the card is a 2 mile 4f hurdle race with 10 runners going to post. For me this race looks a two horse race between Battleford and Minella Till Dawn. Minella till Dawn took a bad fall last time out and I think this run might come too soon. Battleford had some top class bumper form and placed in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and Aintree. He hasn’t taken to hurdles as expected but has shown a fair level of form. I strongly fancied him for the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham but he didn’t get into contention. His previous 2nd to Monalee rates good form and he would win this based on that run alone. BATTLEFORD ★★★ is my selection for this race.

The 4:55 is a Grade one 3 mile novice hurdle with eight runners going to post. This race looks a three horse race based on the form and ratings. Presenting Percy, Penhill and Monalee are the fancied contenders. Presenting Percy easily won the Pertemps handicap hurdle off a big weight at Cheltenham on his last start. That win merits him a chance to step up in grade today. It is a big step up in grade though, from handicaps to grade one. He’ll be bang there at the finish but he might just come up a bit short. Penhill and Monalee are classier types. They finished 1st and 2nd in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham festival. There wasn’t much between them then but the one major difference today is the ground. Monalee hated the good ground at Cheltenham and will be much more at home on this ground. I think it will prove the difference today. MONALEE ★★★★ looks a decent bet in this race at 3/1.

The 5:30 is one of the feature races of the week and it is the Grade 1 Punchestown Gold Cup Chase. Sizing John the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner comes here today to add to his incredible season. This horse has gone from strength to strength this season ever since he has moved to the Jessica Harrington yard and stepping up in trip. His main dangers today are Outlander and Djackadam who he beat at Cheltenham and former gold cup winner Coneygree. Outlander for whatever reason does not like Cheltenham and it’s the 2nd year in a row that he’s run a stinker at the festival. I think we’ll see a much better performance from the horse today and I think he could well be the one to put it up to Sizing John. Coneygree is no where near as good as the horse he was when he won the Gold Cup as a novice. He’s been trouble with injury after injury and I wouldn’t be surprised if was to be retired after this. I’d love to see him win for his connections who have put so much work into the horse but I cannot see it happening. Sizing John is a solid favourite but at the prices I’m going to go for OUTLANDER ★★ (E.W) at 9/1. I know he’s a better horse than what he showed at Cheltenham and he’d have a great chance based on his Lexus win.

The 6:05 is the Grade 1 Punchestown Champion Bumper. There may only be seven runners going to post but it looks a cracking race. I had fancied Carter Mckay for the Cheltenham Champion Bumper but he was beaten a fair ways by Fayonagh in the end who came from the clouds to win. Someday was supposed to run that day was a non runner due to the ground being too quick. This one’s form was boosted by Ciliaos Emery winning a Grade 1. This horse finished 2nd to that on debut. It then won a decent bumper at Leopardstown. Poli Roli was bought for a large amount of money and won easily on debut. Skipped Cheltenham and Aintree with this in mind. It’s hard to weigh up who is the best between the main three Fayonagh, Polo Roli and Someday. It’s going to be a great tussle between them up the straight. It’s tough to make a decision but I’m going to go with SOMEDAY ★★.

The 6:40 is a decent handicap chase over 2 mile 4f. I’d give solid chances to five of these. Rightdownthemiddle ran a great race when 2nd over 3 mile 2f at Aintree on it’s last start. Drop in trip will suit but this horse finds it tough to win races. Stablemates Irish Cavalier and Vintage Vinnie ran 11th and 7th in the Grand Sefton over the national fences last time out. There is no difference in the weights today but Irish Cavalier has proven form at this course. He won this very race last year off top weight on the same ground. He is 2lb higher this year but that isn’t too bad considering this horse won the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase at the start of this season. His form tailed off since but it did last season too when winning. Mr Diablo loves this track and this festival. He was a gallant 2nd at the festival last year. He was down the field in the Grand Sefton last time but should go better back here today. Polidam is the dark horse in the race. This ex french trained horse is having his first run for Willie Mullins today. Hard to weigh up the form but Ruby Walsh rides, could be well handicapped or could be too high up the weights. He could well win this but I’m going to go for IRISH CAVALIER ★★(E.W) who won this race last year.

danganabu

HarshOstrich wrote: »

Djakadam is some cliff horse on here

35% win rate (7 from 20) and a 70% place rate (14 from 20), hardly a cliff horse now.

Francie Barrett

Djakadam is a very good horse, but the doubts that it can close out a three mile race have just grown and grown. Sizing John has had a long hard season, backing at 10/11 I think you'd need your head looking at. Coneygree at 6/1 the clear value here.

PM me nudes

Minella Till Dawn at 11/4 in a single, and doubled with Presenting Percy also 11/4

Rock Lesnar

Looks tricky today, Backed Fayonagh at cheltenham and will stick with it later, might chance close shave in the 1st, then presenting percy after that

HarshOstrich

danganabu wrote: »

35% win rate (7 from 20) and a 70% place rate (14 from 20), hardly a cliff horse now.

In grade 1s what's his record.
He generally has 1 win a season against inferior opposition, never won a race against proper grade 1 horses yet everyone wants to be on him for gold cups,that's a cliff horse

danganabu

HarshOstrich wrote: »

In grade 1s what's his record.
He generally has 1 win a season against inferior opposition, never won a race against proper grade 1 horses yet everyone wants to be on him for gold cups,that's a cliff horse

You can pick holes in all of todays runners tbh and it's a watching race for me, but a 2 time Grade 1 winner, a thystes winner and 3 times placed in a Cheltenham Gold Cup is not a cliff horse.

WickIow Brave

HarshOstrich wrote: »

In grade 1s what's his record.
He generally has 1 win a season against inferior opposition, never won a race against proper grade 1 horses yet everyone wants to be on him for gold cups,that's a cliff horse

He's a 165 merchant. He's not top class. Very smooth traveller and stays well. It's a myth that he doesn't stay. His problem is that he is woefully one paced. Today is his day though. Puppy will be hard at it three out on SJ and Coneygree will be pulled up. Ruby masterclass to win it by a length from Outlander.

jj mac

Crossed my mind 3.40
Drumconner lad 4.20
E/W singles and E/W double

KingJamsie

Magic of light wins 1st

Snipp

have backed minella till dawn in the next.
gl

Breaston Plants

Since when did it become " Peerless Punchestown"?

Massimo Tara

Minella till dawn was brutal there.

Harry Angstrom

Breaston Plants wrote: »

Since when did it become " Peerless Punchestown"?

Since at least 1932....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lqc4LT4KAf8

jj mac

The way Willie's second strings have been turning over his favourites this week I'm going to chance al boum photo in the next

Breaston Plants

Harry Angstrom wrote: »

Since at least 1932....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lqc4LT4KAf8

Never heard that until this week.

Harry Angstrom

What was Ruby thinking there? Poor ride.

Copper_pipe

The worst horse O Leary ever bought...

Auroras_encore

Copper_pipe wrote: »

The worst horse O Leary ever bought...

yup called him out on that ****e at Cheltenham

Harry Angstrom

Robbie's on fire.

MyStubbleItches

No bet but absolutely delighted. What a performance.

HarshOstrich

WickIow Brave wrote: »

He's a 165 merchant. He's not top class. Very smooth traveller and stays well. It's a myth that he doesn't stay. His problem is that he is woefully one paced. Today is his day though. Puppy will be hard at it three out on SJ and Coneygree will be pulled up. Ruby masterclass to win it by a length from Outlander.

Best I've seen from djakadam
But he always finds a way to lose in these big races

Massimo Tara

What a race!! SJ some machine

DDC1990

What a brilliant race!

Unreal from Sizing John, Djackadam and Conegree!

Sizing John's better jump at the last won it really.

artanevilla

Great race.

Auroras_encore

Race of the year !!! They all made their mistakes at different points but that's the small margins you deal with at the highest level

WickIow Brave

Unreal race.

Johner

Unreal race! To win the Irish, English and Punchestown Gold Cup's in the same season is some achievement. Great stuff.

Massimo Tara

MyStubbleItches wrote: »

No bet but absolutely delighted. What a performance.

No bet either but the heart was racing all the way to the end. That's what it's all about.
On a side note outlander was useless again.

Johner

Also what a cracking run by Coneygree and Djakadam was unlucky.

Harry Angstrom

Sizing John didn't seem to be at his best today but he still pulled it out of the fire. Some horse. Nice run from Coneygree as well.

mdwexford

Great stuff.

Hope Sizing John avoids injury, really think he's a special horse now he's found his distance.

STB.

Some horse boy.

Knows where the winning line is.

Well deserved holidays for John.

madmax72

Great race .going to be some gold cup next year if all the contenders get there fit