Punchestown Festival 2022

howareyakid

Big shock with Sir Gerhard getting turned over in the Grade 1 novices’ hurdle earlier on. The same connections who saddled the winner of that race, Mighty Potter, send two more horses out in both of the bumpers on today’s card, and taking into account their expensive prices, breeding, and the form of the yard, you’d have to feel both horses, CALDWELL POTTER and FIRM FOOTINGS, have their chances at 10/3 and 15/4 respectively.

pottokblue

Hard to pick them today unless your a GE fan, monstersize pot leaves me green eyed

D2 e/w Fakirdoudaires, WIN Cieldeniege

the PUnch2pot: limericklace/francois/thanksforthehelp, glengouly/samschoice, filsdoudaires, minellacocooner/minellacrooner, allaho/fakirdoudaires, americanmike

"Watch yer bets" in the 5.20 tomorrow

Two at/towards top of market: no 8 Minella Cocooner for WPM, and no 9 Minella Crooner for Gordon 😋

AMERICAN MIKE 7/2 PP looks a great price to beat Facile Vega ~ 8/15 in the Bumper @ 6.30 tomorrow

Motivator

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118981464#Comment_118981464

Facile Vega is a monster and should improve again from Cheltenham and the ground will make him even harder to beat. It’s not often I say it, in fact I never say it, but he’s probably the bet of the week along with Vauban. I can’t see how American Mike gets any closer to him. The red hot form of Elliotts horses is an obvious positive but can’t see Facile Vega beaten. Same way I can’t see Vauban beaten on Saturday.

howareyakid

I’d also be of the opinion Facile Vega backs up the Cheltenham form tomorrow. The ground would be on no concern to me. The Facile Vega/Vauban double as mentioned above also seems appealing to me.

In the mares’ bumper, a lot of the horses are very closely matched on form, and Dorans Weir is a probably a worthy favourite with her 3/4 length second at the hands of The Nice Guy in Leopardstown a standout piece of form. One that stands out for me at a slightly bigger price though is JETARA for Jessica Harrington with Jamie Codd booked to ride. Closely related to Jeski, she won on debut just over a week ago in Fairyhouse in similar ground conditions to what she’ll face tomorrow, and if she improves for the run, she could have an e/w chance at 12/1.

howareyakid

The Gold Cup will hinge on whether Allaho stays I think. If he does, he could be hard to beat, but I think Al Boum Photo is a very big price at 18/1. He has been runner up in this race the last two years, and while he, at ten years old, might no longer be the horse he once was, his form figures still haven’t fallen off a cliff. I think he still could have a say so looks like potentially might have some each way value.

KerryM9

Anyone know a way to get reduced price entry, anywhere/anyone offering cheaper tickets? Thanks

Motivator

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118981883#Comment_118981883

We’re on the same page here with Jetara also. I liked how that one shaped at Fairyhouse and the ones towards the top of the market are closely matched with no apparent superstar jumping off the page. With a bit of improvement I can see her going close.

Ciel De Neige 3/1 in 7.05

Nicky Henderson is more brandy than man at this stage.

howareyakid

Concertista is interesting in the stayers’ today. She has it all to prove over this trip and in this open Grade 1 company, but the fact Willie is entering here here after a spell over fences may suggest they have seen something. I’m going to take a chance on her at small stakes in what could well be an open race.

pottokblue

D3Punchpot: Gincoco/lukeshort, mtleinster, shdyoperator/goanotherone/potterscorner, piasleypark/siredeberlais/concertista, sassyyetclassy/thebomberliston, bluelord/saintsam

Winbets on Gincoco, shadyoperator, siredeberlais and bluelord

howareyakid

I fancied Sassy Yet Classy in the Pertemps at Cheltenham where she was brought down. A course and distance winner on similar ground conditions back in November, she has some good big-field handicap form in the book, so I’ll give her another chance at 15/2.

howareyakid

James’s Gate a big disappointment there. Very strange race though - the pack never caught up with the three runaway leaders.

pottokblue

D4punchpot: androciheadgorm/jigginsotwnking, bluesari/frenchdynamite, elimay/daphnemoon/dolcita, saintroi/honeysuckle, threestripelife, bilaway/dorknigcock

Just the one race for me tomorrow my cash will be on bluesari e/w and frenchdynamite e/w 4 places with Pp

howareyakid

Lots of small fields and short-priced favourites tomorrow. It will be interesting to see how State Man gets on stepping up in grade. There seems to be confidence him and he goes up against Three Stripe Life who has fought on all fronts this season having ran and Cheltenham and Aintree. This is in State Man's favour and it would be no surprise to see him deliver. All eyes will be on Honeysuckle also in what looks, on paper, a very winnable Champion Hurdle. But so often, she seems to just do enough, and, at 1/5, it's definitely a race to watch – personally I'll be cheering her on to can keep her winning streak going.

Two bets for me are GABBYS CROSS in the 4:15, also for HDB and Rachael, who at 12/1 might hopefully might represent a bit of each way value. James's Gate showed us how vulnerable some of even Willie Mullins' most-fancied bumper horses can be at times, but their strike rate speaks for itself and I think the form of the current favourite for tomorrow's flat race, DON CHALANT, looks solid. At 9/4, I hope he could also represent some value.

pottokblue

Honeysuckle a true delight

pottokblue

D5 Punchpot: Shadyoperator/potterscorner, easysland/peachesandcream, epatante, phoenixway/defibleu/popong, vauban, theshunter/adamantlychosen/heia

howareyakid

I was delighted for Honeysuckle. For some reason I’m always nervous watching her — thought for a second she was under pressure today but once Rachael says go, that’s it. Would be something else if she’s rocking up to Cheltenham next season still unbeaten going up against possibly the likes of Constitution Hill and Vauban in the Champion Hurdle — real top-notchers potentially. A lot can happen between now and then but it was great to see her get her reception today.

howareyakid

Hoping Vauban and Epatante can prove to be bankers tomorrow. I also like PEACHES AND CREAM at 8/1 in the 3m 7f handicap chase at 3:10. Only one win over fences but he was third in the Ulster National last time out and has some promising form to suggest he will stay this trip. I will back ADAMANTLY CHOSEN in the 5:30 handicap hurdle as well. Slight disappointment in the Martin Pipe last time out at Cheltenham but a bumper winner here last year, I think he will appreciate the ground and could be a type of horse who has a lot more improvement to come.