Sprinter Sacre at Punchestown

The Punchestown Festival, the most imprtant N.H. meeting in Ireland, begins today and offers a star card headed by the brilliant Sprinter Sacre (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty), who runs in the Grade One Champion Chase at 18.30 CET. He is unbeaten in his 9 starts over fences, demolishing the opposition every time and is the highest-rated British-trained chaser ever. The very soft ground will not be in his favour, but even so he is impossible to oppose, although we cannot recommend betting on him at the likely odds. However every racing fan will be willing him to win again. On ratings he has 22 lbs in hand of the best Irish runner Sizing Europe (Henry de Bromhead/ Andrew Lynch), who was 19 lengths behind him at Cheltenham in the Champion Chase, which he had won the previous year. Siizing Europe has won 7 times here, including this race last year, and looks booked for second place, although we also expect his stable companion Days Hotel (PT Enright) to run well. He loves thi s ground and should certainly reverse his latest form with Foildubh (John Ryan/ Paul Carberry) on these terms. German-bred Noble Prince (Paul Nolan/ Davy Russell) is also very useful, but has not won for ages and it will be a major shock if he wins this.

There are two more Grade Ones on the card, the Champion Novice Hurdle at 17.20 and the Champion Novice Chase over 3 miles one furlong at 19.40, both also featuring the Cheltenham winners of the equivalent races. The former sees Champagne Fever (Willie Mullins/ Runby Walsh) one again opposed by Jezki (Jessica Harrington/ Barry Geraghty) two very smart novices who have boith won 6 of their 9 starts. Champagne Fever, who also won the big bumper at this meeting last year, made all the running under a brilliant Walsh ride at Cheltenham, where Jezki finished a close third, but we would not be suprised to see the latter gain his revenge now, as we think the track and going may suit him better. Ted Veale (Tony Martin/ Paul Carberry) also won at Cheltenham, but that was a handicap and this is far tougher, while Rule the World (Mouse Morris/ Davy Russell) was runner-up to supersmart The New One, but is down quite a bit in distance here.

Willie Mullins has two runners in the novice chase, Back in Focus (Ruby Walsh) and Boston Bob (Paul Townend), but while the former won at Cheltenham, thre latter fell at ther last when still in contention. Ruby rides the lkikelyx favkiuroite, but there should be little between them, while Harry Topper (Kim Bailey/ Jason Maguire) looks a very dangerous raider from the U.K. Dessie Hughes´ pair Lyreen Legend (Bryan Cooper) and Tofino Bay (Lynch) were both runners-up at Cheltenham and can also get involved in a tricky race.

The handicap hurdle at 17.55 is the big betting race and looks wide open with 20 runners. Almost anything can win, although we do not believe that last year´s winner, British traider Snap Tie, can win again under this weight. We shall take a chance on Hisaabaat (Dermot Weld/ Mark Walsh), whoi has twice let us down badly, but has been dropped in the weights and won the big 4yo hurdle at this meeting last year.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Keep On Track - Near Perfection - Zest For Life
2. Race: Jezki - Rule The World - Ted Veale
3. Race: Tennis Cap - Sitcom - Shrapnel
4. Race: Sizing Europe - Days Hotel - Foildubh
5. Race: Moyle Park - Harvey Logan - Carriganog
6. Race: Boston Bob - Lyreen Legend - Back In Focus
7. Race: Wicklow Brave - Western Boy - Draco