Punchestown: fifth and final day

the final day of Punchestown´s big N.H. meeting has more high class racing on offer and should see more big race success going the way of trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh, who have dominated the week so far. They can take the two main events, the Grade 3 mares hurdle at 14.45 CET with Serpentaria, the clear form choice after winning 5 of her last 6 starts, and the Grade One 4yo hurdle at 15.55 with Mourad, whose third place in the Triumph at Cheltenham is easily the best form on offer here. They also have chances in the supporting racs, notably the valuable handicap hurdle at 17.05, where Mullins saddles 4 of the 24 runners. Walsh rides the consistent Sesenta, who is likely to start favourite; however this is a very tough race, and we have a lot of respect for top-weight Essex and also P´tit Fute, both classy performers who have been running in better races.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Wedger Pardy - Drombeag - Dix Villez
2. Race: Serpentaria - Aura About You - Oligarch Society
3. Race: Agus A Vic - Juveigneur - Baby Run
4. Race: Mourad - Jumbo Rio - Tharawaat
5. Race: Nenuphar Collonges - One Cool Cookie - Arbor Supreme
6. Race: Sesenta - Northern Alliance - Smoking Aces
7. Race: Seanscoil - Caesar Augustus - Brog An Ri
8. Race: Contra Mundum - Pebble Reach - Qasbah