Punchestown Festival, first day

The Punchestown Festival, which starts today and goes on until Saturday, is the biggest Irish N.H. meeting of the year, and comparable to Cheltenham and Aintree in the quality of sport on offer. There are 3 Grade One races on today´s card, easily the most intersting of which is the Champion Chase over 2 miles at 19.05 CET. Several of these ran at the either or both of the two big British meetings, including Sizing Europe (Henry de Bromhead/ Andrew Lynch), winner of the Arkle, and Forpadydeplasterer (Tom Cooper/ Barry Geraghty), Kalahari King (Ferdy Murphy/ Davy Russell replacing injured Graham Lee) and Twist Magic (Paul Nicholls/ Tony McCoy), who all ran in Cheltenham´s Champion Chase. Forpady fnished second there, with Kalahari third and the German-bred Twist Magic, who never goes well at Cheltenham, pulled up. Twist Magic goes well enough here however, and won this race in 2008. Sizing Europe is unbeaten over fences, winning his last 5 races, 3 of them here, but all of them were in novice events and he now moves up into the top grade for the first time. Forpady followed his second place with another runner-up spot at Aintree, and has in fact been runner-up on all his 5 starts this season, all in top company. His overall record reads one fourth place from 15 starts, 9 second places and 5 wins. He appears to hold Kalahari KIng on their last two runnings, but the latter is also very dangerous. We hope to see Sizing Europe maintain his 100% record at the main expense of Forpadytheplasterer and Twist Magic.

The Champion Novice Chase over 3 miles 1 furlong at 19.40 is trickier as there are question marks over several of the runners, notably Zaarito (Colm Murphy/ Davy Condon), who is probably the best horse in the field, but whose jumping often lets him down - he has in fact fallen on 5 of his last 9 starts. He is also tackling this distance for the first time, but if he stays, and if he stays on his feet (two big ifs!) he should win. Last time out he fell, when looking the likely winner, in the Powers Gold Cup on desperate ground at Easter. That race went to 25-1 shot Jadanli (Paul Gilligan/ Andrew Lynch), but we shall be surprised if he scores this time. Willie Mullins´ pair Kempes (McCoy) and The Midnight Club (Emmet Mullins) could be dangerous, as is also Saddlers Star (Tony Martin/ Davy Russell), who fell last time when favourite for the Irish Grand National, but is now moving up in grade.

The other Grade One race is the Champion Novice Hurdle at 17.20. Willie Mullins is again doubly represented here, by Flat Out (Emmet) and Blackstairmountain (Paul Townend), who both ran in the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham. Flat Out finished in front of his stable companion then, but we expect those places to be reversed today. Also in the line up is General Miller (Nicky Henderson/ Geraghty), who fell at the first in that race, but finished strongly to defeat Menorah, the Cheltenham winner, 11 days ago at Aintree. If he has recovered from those extertions, he should go well, but Blackstairmountain is our choice. Sweeps Hill (John Kiely/ McCoy), a course specialist, is another danger.

The opening cross-country at 16.40 should go to Ted Walsh´s Wedger Party, with daughter Katie in the saddle, who can complete a hat-trick in this event. He has been off since June, and has to concede weight all round, but can still win again, with Enda Bolger´s four runners the obvious threats.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Outlaw Pete - Wedger Pardy - Zest For Life
2. Race: General Miller - Blackstairmountain - Sweeps Hill
3. Race: Tarkari - Colleoni - Alpine Eagle
4. Race: Sizing Ireland - Double Double - Earls Quarter
5. Race: Kalahari King - Sizing Europe - Twist Magic
6. Race: Zaarito - The Midnight Club - China Rock
7. Race: Laganbank - Corrib Princess - Noosa