Punchestown Festival 2024

howareyakid

Day 1:

15:40: Slade Steel 15/8

17:25: Dinoblue 11/10

18:00: American Mike 12/1 e/w

15:40: Not a massively bullish shout in what is sure to be a very intriguing race, but I find myself coming back to the Supreme winner in SLADE STEEL here. I can completely see the angle of Mystical Power being much more suited by what in theory will be more of a speed test on better ground. However, I thought HDB’s horse showed such toughness to win that day, and the form of the race has really seemed to work out subsequently. For me, I think this horse has the potential to confirm his Supreme form tomorrow. 

17:25: I feel DINOBLUE is a very solid favorite here. Her record at 2 miles is very solid, and a return to that trip on improving ground should see her back at her best. Banbridge should be better than what he showed at Cheltenham but 2 1/2 miles is definitely his optimum trip. 

18:00: With Gordon Elliott having a strong hand here with Three Card Brag — who has close form ties with the favourite Monty’s Star — also, Jack Kennedy’s selection of AMERICAN MIKE is notable. I feel if you can put a line through his run at Cheltenham, I think he could have every chance at an each way price here if getting his jumping issues sorted out.

gazza1

3.40 Asian Master 16/1 ew 3 places.

Sure to appreciate the better ground having run wide the whole way around in the Supreme looking for it.

3.05 World of Dreams 9/1 ew 6 places

Ran really well to finish 3rd having been off the track for over 2 years. Bounce can always happen but he's been dropped 3lbs for some reason for that run and I very much doubt trainer has come over just to get some duty free

howareyakid

Sixandahalf won that bumper very impressively there. Familiar Dreams, who beat her at Nass last tine our before going on to land the mares’ bumper at Fairyhouse, goes in the Punchestown equivalent tomorrow. She is currently 11/2 but you can see that price shortening after that form boost.

howareyakid

Day 2

2:30: Luminous Light 33/1 e/w

3:40: Mistergif 7/4

4:15: Dancing City 9/4

4:50: Jasmin De Vaux 13/8

6:00: Brideswell Lad 16/1 e/w

6:35: Familiar Dreams 10/3

2:30: In looking for something at a bigger price who may be able to get involved here, LUMINOUS LIGHT stood out. He seems the type of horse that will appreciate some better ground. His third over 2m5f to Waterford Whispers and Answer to Kayf in December is solid form, so he might be able to outrun his odds if bouncing back from a disappointing run last time out in Gowran where he was pulled up.

3:40: Keeping it fairly simple here: MISTERGIF looks to be the best horse in the race with the strongest form.

4:15: Similar to above, DANCING CITY is favourite for a reason having won at the DRF and Aintree, as well as having run a very solid race in the AB at Cheltenham also. There is the question that this could be one race too many, but Mystical Power showed today that it can be done, albeit he didn't run at the DRF also. However, I'm willing to put my faith in Willie to have him right again, and the ground conditions put him ahead of Better Days Ahead who I feel may operate better on softer ground.

4:50: Again, sticking with a Willie Mullins favourite here with the Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner, JASMIN DE VAUX. I feel Cheltenham winners have a good record in coming to Punchestown and backing up the form – we saw it last year with A Dream To Share, for example – and I see no reason to see why this horse can't do the same.

6:00: BRIDESWELL LAD won over 3 miles at the Festival last year, and while today may be in stronger company, he seems to be a horse that comes alive at this time of the year. He has some decent bumper form here from two years ago – finishing fifth to My Mate Mozzie – and the majority of his form is in spring/summer on good-ish ground. So he's another I feel may have a squeak at an each way price here.

6:35: FAMILIAR DREAMS' form was given a massive boost yesterday with Sixandahalf, who was a 3 1/2 length second to this horse in Naas in March, going on to run away with the closing bumper. She won the big mares' bumper at Fairyhouse, and I feel she has a massive chance of backing that up again here.

howareyakid

Jasmin De Vaux was disappointing there!

hudhastings

Nice touch howayakid had familiar dreams. ✌️

howareyakid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122086734#Comment_122086734

Yeah she was a nice winner! Great story as well for her connections! She’s being sold at the auction in Punchestown tonight as well, so no doubt will make another few pound for her owners.

howareyakid

ANNA BUNINA is an interesting runner in the 18:35 handicap hurdle tomorrow. She strikes as a horse that needs a bit of good ground, and she was second to Echoes in Rain here in the G1 mares’ hurdle here last year, so clearly has loads of ability on her day. With a 5lb claimer booked to ride tomorrow, she really could be primed for a big run. She’s 14/1 currently with PP from 33s so has attracted some market support already.

Jimmy Raggatip

Tomorrow looks tough. Not sure I fancy Teahupoo on drying ground

howareyakid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122087326#Comment_122087326

Yes, tricky looking day alright - usually is. I tend to agree with Teahupoo also. Hard to get stuck in at odds on but race doesn’t look to have a huge amount of depth either I don’t think. Asterion Forlonge and Buddy One look the best each way alternatives on first glance.

howareyakid

Day 3

3:40: Sign From Above 40/1 e/w

4:15: Blood Destiny 2/1

6:00: Asterion Forlonge 9/1 e/w

6:35: Anna Bunina 14/1 e/w

3:40: SIGN FROM ABOVE's price looked too big for me here. He beat Antrim Coast, who ran well today behind Gorgeous Tom and Mistergif, over 2m5f in Navan back in September but has been off form since. He was pulled up in the same Gowran race as Luminous Light on heavy ground in February. We saw how that horse came back to form today and ran creditably to finish fifth, and interestingly, he lines up again in this race again at similar odds of around 33/1. So it will be interesting to see if he can produce another good run, and he could indeed be an interesting each way bet again in this race. However, so too could the above selection, and if returning to form for a return to quicker ground, I feel he could have a great each way chance here at a big price.

4:15: I think BLOOD DESTINY could be good enough to justify favouritism here. His form with Spillanes Tower was given a big boost on Tuesday, and at 5 he is still a horse with massive potential to improve beyond handicaps. The Folkes Tiara stood out as an each way alternative at 25/1. Although he has been a drifter in the market, he was third in the race last year from a very similar mark, and if bouncing back from a disappointing run at Cheltenham, he could have a chance of making the frame again.

6:00: A close second in the race last year behind Klassical Dream, who won the last three renewals of this race, ASTERION FORLONGE has run fairly consistently since then. Teahupoo was back in fourth last year, and there is an argument that he is a better horse this year. However, at odds-on, there's very little value in his price, and I feel this horse is the best each way alternative in the race.

6:35: Somewhat of an enigmatic horse, ANNA BUNINA has won a Scottish Champion Hurdle in 2022 and finished second in graded races behind Echoes in Rain and Queens Brook, both at Punchestown, on some of her best going days. While she hasn't won a race since 2022, she has run creditably, most notably when finsishng second to the aforementioned Echoes in Rain in the graded mares' race at last year's Festival. In these conditions, there's no doubt that this horse has the ability to get involved if on form, and at a double figure price, I'm more than happy to take a chance on her here.

howareyakid

Day 4

5:25: Lifetime Ambition 10/3

7:40: Don’tstopthemusic 9/2

5:25: While he’s been ultra consistent, it’s been hard to be blown away by Its On The Line finishing second in what was, in my opinion, a below par Cheltenham Foxhunters, and winning in the Aintree equivalent looking like he wasn’t really travelling well for large parts of the race. I think he may be vulnerable here, and I’m going to side with LIFETIME AMBITION. This horse was high quality performer before switching to hunter chasing, and he is a former Punchestown Festival winner, beating Fastorslow in the Louis Fitzgerald Hudle in 2021. The following year, he finished second to Capodano in a novice chase. While experienced jockeys are often favourable in these amateur races, Susie Doyle has struck up a good partnership with him, and she claims 7lbs. All in all, I think this horse can give a very good showing here.

7:40: Fishery Lane sets a good standard here after finishing fifth in the Cheltenham Bumper. However, Willie Mullins’ bumper horse have been somewhat disappointing this week, apart from the Redmeption Day in the Grade 1. With Jasmin De Vaux and Romeo Coolio letting the Cheltenham form down during the week, it could be argued it wasn’t a vintage renewal this year. Having said that, The Yellow Clay, who finished one place behind Fishery Lane that day, was Redemption Day’s closest rival on Wednesday. DON’TSTOPTHEMUSIC was a good second to a decent Mullins horse in Galway last August, and while he hasn’t been seen since, hopefully he can give a good account of himself here for the Martin Brassil/Sean Mulryan connection who won this race with Longhouse Poet in 2019.

howareyakid

Day 5

2:30: Knockiel Synge 17/2 e/w
3:05: History of Fashion 10/1 e/w
4:15: Ballykeel 16/1 e/w
4:50: Kargese 6/4 NAP
5:25: Waterford Whispers 2/1

2:30: So often, we see these course specialists turn up again and again in these races. KNOCKIEL SYNGE won the Ladies Cup here on Tuesday, with Three By Two back in fourth. That horse subsequently was a close second to Singing Banjo in the La Touche which shows how these horses can often show up in these conditions time and again, and often after a short turnaround.

3:05: HISTORY OF FASHION was third in this race last year and ran a cracker to finish fifth in the Irish National last, so he looks to have solid each way claims here again.

4:15: BALLYKEEL ran well to finish second in this last year. Running off a similar mark this year, hopefully he may run a good race again. Race looks like a hotter contest this year, though, it could be argued, with Kruz Control looking solid at the top of the market after his Aintree win.

4:50: KARGESE has been a gallant runner up the last twice at Aintree and Cheltrnham respectively. She has proven herself as one of the top juveniles and hopefully if she runs to the same standard today she will get a deserved win.

5:25: After being fancied for the Martin Pipe, WATERFORD WHISPERS ran a cracker to finish second, and you get the feeling he can get compensation here if backing up that performance.

howareyakid

And that’s it for another year! Enjoyable festival overall, I thought. Great to see Jack Kennedy win the jockeys’ title - well deserved. And while Mullins typically dominated, there seemed to be a spread of winners as well, and some good stories thrown in there to boot.