Punchestown Festival - Day 2

I had a plan of doing a full spotlight for every Grade 1 race at the festival but the Bumper had about 27 runners and I was short of time.


Punchestown Festival - Day 2

4.20

Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle (4YO only) 
Winner €16,251

SON AMIX brings the best form to the table after his fourth in the competitive Fred Winter at Cheltenham, arguably deserving extra credit that day as well, having raced close to the strong pace. He's got an excellent realtionship with the conditional on board as well, which will help a lot.

Pick: Son Amix

4.55 

Madra Irish Dog Food Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) (4YO plus) 
Winner €22,750

The ground and a 3lbs penalty make things a little more difficult, but MAGNANIMITY looks to have a bright future and should be able to concede weight to these rivals. Ad Idem nay prove to be the biggest threat, while Rhyl Accord and Definte Edge.  

Pick: Magnanimity 

6.05

Paddy Power Champion I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 1) (4YO to 7YO) 
Winner €52,000  

There's no doubting that all of the horses who ran at Cheltenham are better than their finishing position, and as such we shouldn't be suprised to see form reversals. TAVERN TIMES had a number of these rivals in behind when finishing fourth in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and seeing as he didn't really handle the track and should be fresh enough having only run twice. It's hard to pick between Shot For The Hip, Up Ou That and HIDDEN UNIVERSE for the e/w vote but he did best of the three and has won again since. 

Picks: Tavern Times (win), Hidden Universe (e/w)

6.40 

Irish Daily Mirror Handicap Chase (Grade A) (5YO plus) 
Winner €49,600

A very tricky race with plenty of talented horses who could be well treated. STEWARTS HOUSE has carried on progressing this season, winning well last time at Leopardstown. THE SAWYER is well treated on his 2 handicap wins this season and his Ascot Chase third.

Pick: Stewarts House (win), The Sawyer (e/w) 


7.15 Punchestown

Brian Price Memorial Champion Hunters Chase (5YO plus) 
Winner €16,251

KILTY STORM stepped up on a winning debut in this sphere when runner-up in the Christie's Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham last time, and a reproduction of that (having been given       36 days to recover) will make him go close. 

Pick: Kilty Storm