Punchestown Gold Cup

The Punchestown Festival goes into its second day with 3 more Grade One races, with the Punchestown Gold Cup over 3 miles 1 furlong at 18.30 CET clearly the best race of the day. The field of 8 includes the runner-up Sir Des Champs (Willie Mullins/ Davy Russell), third-placed Long Run (Nicky Henderson/ Sam Waley-Cohen) and sixth-placed Captain Chris (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson) from Cheltenham´s Gold Cup and all 3 should again be involved. Although well beaten at Cheltenham, we certainly expect Captain Chris, whose stable is now in much better form, to finish closer to the other pair, although he was also beaten by Long Run in the King George at Christmas. Henderson also saddles Riverside Theatre (Barry Geraghty), who was fourth in the Ryanair, behind First Lieutenant (Mouse Morris/ Bryan Cooper), who went on to win at Aintree, with Quito de la Roque (Colm Murphy/ Paul Townend), who weakened into fourth after leading early. We expect the latter to do much better now. Kauto Stone (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh), the trainer´s only runner at the meeting, is no slouch either, though nowhere near as good as his famous half-brother Kauto Star, but looks slightly outclassed here, as is Chicago Grey (Gordon Elliott/ Davy Condon), pulled up last time in the Grand National. This is an extremely strong field and although logically the first two from Cheltenham should again play the leading roles - of whom we give slight preference to Long Run - we would not be at all surprised to see Quite de la Roque to run a big race at a big price.

Cheltenham form obviously sets the benchmark for the other top races, and 5 of the 12 runners in the Champion I.N.H. Flat Race at 19.05 last ran in the Champion Bumper there, including the easy winner Briar Hill (Willie and Paddy Mullins) and the third-placed The Liquidator (David Pipe/ Jane Mangan). That is clearly the best form and we could easily have the same result again.

Willie Mullins also has a strong hand in the 3 mile Novice Hurdle at 17.55, where his two runners Ballycasey (Ruby Walsh) and Inish Island (Paul Townend) are top-rated. The former is much improved and taking a huge leap in class, while the latter has already run some good races in defeat, notably when twice not far behind At Fishers Cross. On a line through the latter, he holds Road to Riches (Noel Meade/ Davy Russell), very disappointing behind that horse at Aintree after winning his 4 previous races. One of the Mullins runners will probably win, but we are not sure which.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Never Enough Time - Rawnaq - Treat Yourself
2. Race: Call Me Bubbles - Dalasiri - Viconte Du Noyer
3. Race: Ballycasey - Road To Riches - Seefood
4. Race: Sir Des Champs - Long Run - First Lieutenant
5. Race: Grecian Tiger - Outlander - The Liquidator
6. Race: Call The Police - Nadiya De La Vega - Canaly
7. Race: Sizing Chile - Beat That - Fairy Island