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Punchestown Day One

Tuesday’s card at Punchestown is one I am really looking forward to from an enthusiast’s point of view if not from a betting one. Realistically, if you can’t enjoy the mouthwatering clash of Envoi Allen and Monkfish without having a bet in the race, then perhaps this may not be the sport for you. They come here on the back of a couple of below-par performances at Cheltenham with Envoi Allen losing his unbeaten record when falling in the Marsh Chase and Monkfish underwhelming when winning the RSA. If I had to choose one, it would marginally be Monkfish but I will not be putting any hard-earned money on the line. I just think his performance at the Dublin Racing Festival was astonishing in every way you look at it, with the visual impression strongly affirmed by the clock. Hopefully both will enjoy a clear round and we should be in for a real treat – sit back and enjoy!

The Champion Chase is another one that is intriguing with Allaho dropping back to 2 miles after routing a quality field in the Ryanair at Cheltenham. He meets his stable companion Chacun Pour Soi who is on a retrieval mission having disappointed at the Cheltenham festival. Nube Negra, perhaps an unlucky loser in the champion Chase adds even more spice to an intriguing contest. It is a huge difference between 2m 5f at Cheltenham and 2m at Punchestown and I am not sure Allaho will find it easy to dominate this field and take them out of their comfort zone. Chacun Pour Soi is an excellent jumper and has a very high cruising speed and he is my idea of the likeliest winner. He is sure to be better suited to this track and the lack of incline in the final part of the race should help him hit the line better.

The Grade 1 novice hurdle has attracted a rather disappointing field with Appreciate It a notable absentee at the 48-hour stage. I am a huge fan of Echoes In Rain but I am surprised she is as short as she is now. I must say I am sorry I didn’t take some of the ante-post prices available on her that were rather juicy having thought about it more than once a few weeks ago. They are certainly the highlights of what is otherwise an incredibly difficult card with two bumpers and a Cross Country Chase. Neither of those present wonderful betting opportunities for obvious reasons but the bumpers will be full of potential horses to follow next season and beyond, particularly the Goffs Bumper at 5.55. Two incredibly difficult handicap hurdles complete the eight-race and having had a good look at both, I am deciding to focus on the 2m handicap hurdle at 4.50 for a bet on the opening day.

When I say a bet, I am going to suggest a small bet on two in this one. In fairness, with the way Aintree went I may need a lot more than two darts in a competitive 25-runner handicap but here goes. I found it very hard to split two mares from the Mullins stable, Ruaille Buaille and Jazzaway. Given their prices, I am happy to advise both to small stakes. The case for Ruaille Buaille is rather obvious after her latest effort at the Fairyhouse festival in a good-looking handicap over the same distance. Held up off a reasonably steady pace, she did well to finish as close as she did on that occasion. She was the only one of the first six home to come from off the pace, with the positions changing little in a race where those held up were certainly inconvenienced. She can be marked up considerably for that effort and I have no doubt that she can win from her current mark despite the 2lb rise. She also shaped encouragingly at Leopardstown before that in possibly the hottest handicap hurdle run all season at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Jazzaway is a bit riskier as she has been off the track since last July but I am happy to take her fitness on trust. The last time we saw her was a very good effort, only just failing to give Mrs Milner 4lb. That race has worked out very well, aside from the winner who obviously has franked the form on more than one occasion since. The well-beaten fifth went on to beat County Hurdle winner Belfast Banter in a novice hurdle afterwards, while the Jessica Harrington trained Barrington Court has won three times since (on the flat admittedly), almost beat Princess Zoe at Galway and looks really progressive. Jazzaway herself has not been seen since as mentioned already but that was also off a break and she won on her debut so that doesn’t look such a concern. Off a mark of 126 (just 6lb higher than the Galway effort), she can surely be competitive if ready to run and I am sure that is the case coming from her stable.


0.5pt win Ruaille Buaille (11/1 General) Punchestown 4.50

0.5pt win Jazzaway (11/1 General) Punchestown 4.50

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