2.30pm
Intermsoftrendsfortheopeningrace onDay2ofthePunchestownFestival, youngerhorsestendtoexcelinthe contest.Nineofthelast14winnershave beenagedsixoryounger,andthat includesallofthelastfive.
Thosetowardstheheadoftheweights havebeentheonestofocuson,withall ofthelastsixwinnerscarrying11-4or moretovictory–and11ofthelast14 winnersfittingintothiscategory.
Interestingly,tenofthelast14winners havebeenriddenbyajockeyclaiming weightand15inthisyear’sfieldare riddenbyasuchapilot
Apositiverecentrunhasalsoproved important,with15ofthelast20winners arrivingonthebackofatopfourfinish lasttimeout–althoughjustfourofthose arrivedonthebackofavictorywhenlast seen.
bettrendsselection
BIRMINGHAMALABAMA(E/W)
Thecourseanddistancewinningsix-year-oldfitsallof ourcriteria,andtheformofhis determinedLeopardstown victorylastmonthwas advertisedwhentherunner-up wonatFairyhouse Hedidn’t runhisraceunderachangeof tacticsatWexfordlasttime, butcanbouncebackdownin tripeased1lbbythe handicapper.
3.05pm
Afairlynewracehereatthe PunchestownFestival,sowedon’thave manytrendstoanalyse However,four ofthefivewinnersofthecontesthave beenagedsixandallofthefivewinners carried11-5ormoretovictory.
BothATippForGoldand Downmexicowayweresoundlybeaten inGradedcompanylasttimebutmake moreappealatthislevel,andinfact thelatteristhehighestratedinthefield withanofficialratingof133.
GavinCromwelllandedthespoilslast yearandlookstoholdastronghand again.MillforcescoredatThurleslast timebutmayjustfindthistripalittle sharpandpreferenceherewillbefor CHAMPAGNEJURY.
bettrendsselection
CHAMPAGNEJURY(WIN)
Thesix-year-oldwillberidden byConorStone-Walshand couldlookwell-treatedcarrying 11-7.ANaasbumperwinner,the JukeboxJurygeldinghashad justtheonestartoverhurdles andisincrediblyunexposed.His debutsecondtoHonestyPolicy hasworkedoutextremelywell, withthewinnerscoringinan AintreeGrade1nexttime
3.40pm LouisFitzgeraldHotelHurdle
WillieMullinshaswonfourofthelastsevenrenewalsoftherace–withJessica Harringtonwinningtwointhattime Thelatterisnotrepresentedhere,butthe MasterofClosuttonhastwointhefield.
2:30pm | –
The Adare Manor
Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle
Kaidd’AuthiefliestheflagforthegreenandgoldofJPMcManusandarrived inIrelandwithformbehindTriumphHurdlewinnerMajborough Despitefalling ondebut,thefive-year-oldcreatedagoodimpressionwhenwinningastrong maidenhurdleatLeopardstownoverChristmas.However,hehas disappointedinGrade1companythelasttwiceandmustbouncebackwith hissightslowered.Hecanbeabigplayerifimprovinghisjumpingdownin class.
Mullinswontheracein2018and2019withmares,andPaulTownendrides seven-year-oldGreatPretendermareGOTGLORYhereforthetrainer.Whilsta briefskimovertheformbookwouldn’tinspirefaith–havingbeenpulledup hereinDecemberandfallingthelasttwice–sheretainsplentyofpotential receivingweight Shewasyettobeaskedforhereffortandlookedalikely winnerwhenfallingatClonmellatest,anddoeshaveformatthismeeting.
bettrendsselection
GOTGLORY(WIN)
Theseven-year-oldfinishedan excellentsecondintheListed Mares’NoviceHurdleherelast year,goingclearwiththe winnerfromastrongfieldthat includedthelikesofOnlyBy NightandSpindleberry.
4.15pm
Hurdle(Grade1)
AsisthecasewithalotoftheracesatthePunchestownFestival,thethree-mile Grade1NoviceHurdleisanotherracethathasbeendominatedbyWillieMullins inrecentyears.Thetrainerhaswonallofthelastfourrenewals,aswellasseven ofthelastnine,withthelikesofGaelicWarriorandGalopinDesChamps featuredamongstanillustriousrollofhonour
Thechampiontrainerisresponsibleforhalfofthefieldhere,butJasminDe Vauxisthepickofthebunchonform,aswellasthepickofPaulTownend.The 2024WeatherbysChampionBumperwinnerhadstruggledwithhisjumping overhurdlesbutimprovedimmenselyforthestepupintripwhenlandingthe AlbertBartlettlasttime.Hetravelledwellthroughoutandwasstrongatthe finish,andthatformmakeshimtheonetobeathere.However,itisworthnoting thathewaswellbeatenatthismeetinglastyearwhennotreplicatinghis Cheltenhamformandispricedprettyshorthere.
Hecanbeopposed,anditwashardnottobetakenwiththevictoryofHONESTY POLICYintheGrade1MerseyNovices’HurdleatAintreelasttime–especially consideringheonlymadehishurdlesdebutinJanuary.Thefive-year-old–recentlypurchasedbyJPMcManus–hasimprovedleapsandboundsinjusta shortperiodoftime,winningatNavanandLeopardstownovertwomilesbefore winningovertheintermediatetripinLiverpool.
bettrendsselection
HONESTYPOLICY(WIN)
Heflewhomewiththewindin hissailsthatdayandcango onimprovingupintripagain, shapingasifitwillsuitand havingapedigreestackedwith plentyofstamina.
4.50pm
AsistobeexpectedwithPunchestown’spremierbumper,sevenofthelast11 winnersofthisracehadpreviouslycontestedtheWeatherbysChampion Bumperontheirlaststart Thewinnerofthatrace–BambinoFever–reappearshereinabidtoremainunbeaten,winningallofherthreestarts underRulessofar.Shestayedonextremelystronglytolandthespoilsat Cheltenham,andthatisnodoubtthesinglestrongestpieceofform,whilstshe alsoboltedupfromrecentListedscorerSwitchFromDieselattheDublin RacingFestival.Itisworthnotinghowever,thatfourofthelastsevenChampion Bumperwinnerstohavecontestedthisracehavecomeupshort.
2:30pm | – The Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle
Onehorsewhodidn’trunatCheltenham–ashewasnotqualifiedunderthe newrules–wasNoelMeade’sCOLCANNON,whohasplentyofexperience havingruninsixbumpers.Hefinishedrunner-upatthismeetingtosmart mareSixandahalflasttermandreturnedthisseasonwithanimpressive victoryatGalwayinOctober,despitepullingthroughout.Theformofthatrace wasinfactboostedatCheltenham,therunner-upfillingthesamespotinthe ChampionBumper.
bettrendsselection
COLCANNON(WIN)
Thefive-year-oldtookthe Grade2attheDRFinfinestyle whenlastseen,travelling smoothlyintherearbefore quickeningclearinsmart fashion.Thattooisgoodform, andhearrivesherefresherthan most.
5.30pm
ThereislittlesurprisethatwhenrunningourtriedandtestedtrendsonthefourrunnerfieldthatGALOPINDESCHAMPSleadstheway.
2:30pm |
–
The Adare Manor
Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle
Thetwo-timeCheltenhamGoldCupwinnerwasdefeatedinhishistorichattrick bidlasttime,butgavewayonlytoaprogressiveyoungrivalanddidn’ttravelor jumpwithhisusualfluencyandenthusiasm.Hedidn’tappearhisimperiousself atCheltenham–afacthistrainerandjockeyreiteratedasmuch–butnodoubt towersabovethisfieldintermsofnaturalability.Hehasbeenbeatenintherace forthepasttwoyearsbuthasstillacquittedhimselfadmirablytochasehome knownPunchestownspecialistFastorslow Inthismuchsmallerrenewal,hecould beallowedtodominatefromthefrontandareturntoanywhereclosetohis SavillsorIrishGoldCupperformanceswouldsurelygetthejobdonehere
Runner-uponourtrendstableisMonty’sStar,andHenrydeBromhead’s second-seasonchasercanfollowhimhome-currentlypricedastheoutsiderof thefield.
bettrendsselection
GALOPINDESCHAMPS(WIN)
Hehaswonatthetrack previously,winningthethreemilenovicehurdleatthis meetingin2021aswellas stridingtoacomfortable victoryintheJohnDurkanin 2022,andhecanfinally overcomethePunchestown GoldCuphoodoohere–makingitthirdtimelucky.
6.05pm ColmQuinnBMWHandicapChase
Thishandicapchaseovertheintermediatetripoffersavaluablepotand, whilstWillieMullinsholdsagoodrecordintheracewithfivewinnerssince 2010,twoofhisfanciedrunnerssitatthetopoftheweightsandthosetowards thefootofthehandicaphavethebestrecordintherace.11ofthelast14 winnershavecarried11-1orless,whilstnineofthoseinfactcarried10-5orless
2:30pm | – The Adare
Manor
Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle
Younger,moreunexposedhorseshaveprovedthecontenderstofocusonin thiscontestwithsevenofthelast14winnersbeingnovicesand,in-keeping withthis,tenofthelast14winnershavebeenagedbetweensevenandnine
Arecentrunhasalsobeenkeyinrecentyears,witheightofthelastnine winnershavingraninthepriorfourweeks,arrivingatPunchestownwithrace fitnessonside.
GordonElliott’sLIGHTKEEPERfitsthebillbesthereaccordingtoourtrends, sneakinginatthebottomonthebackoftwoimpressivesuccessesatDown RoyalandWexford.
bettrendsselection
LIGHTKEEPER(E/W)
Whilstupanother7lbsforthat latestsuccess,theseven-yearoldsurgedclearinthestyleofa progressivetypeandtheform wasgivenatimelyboostwhen therunner-upscoredinaListed handicapatFairyhousenext time.
6.35pm
WeatherbysGeneralStudBookIrish EBFMaresINHFlatRace(Grade3)
Ourveryownsponsoredracetakescentrestagenext,anditisperhaps oneofthetrickiestbettingheatsontheentirecard!Theraceispackedfull ofexcitingandunexposedmares,andpromisestobeanenthralling contest.
WillieMullinshaswontheracesixtimessince2012andreliesonOrderOf StGeorgemareFutureProspecthere.Shecreatedatakingimpression whenstridingtoanine-lengthvictoryonRulesdebutbuthasprovedtoo freethelasttwiceandmustsettlebetter.
Carrigmoornaspruceiscloselymatchedonformandhasproved mightilyconsistentingoodcompanythisseason.Shewasslightly hamperedlasttime,butdoesappeartolackthatbitoftacticalspeed
AmenKatecomfortably dispatchedofDeclanQueally’s marewhenanimpressivewinner ondebut,buthasdisappointed withherfinishingeffortthelast twiceandnowhastoreverseform withtheaforementionedpair
SEOLINNappealsasthemost suitedtothetaskathandhere, arrivinghereonthebackof victoriesintheCheltenhamListed bumperandtheGrade2Nickel CoinatAintree.PaddyTwomey’s OrderOfStGeorgemarehasaflat pedigreeandisahalf-sistertoan ItalianDerbyrunner-up.
bettrendsselection
SEOLINN(WIN)
ThatAintreecontestcanoften workoutextremelystrongly, andshedisplayedagame attitudedespiteracingfreely early. Thisstrongtravellercan provethebestoftheseinthis sphere.
