Kopek Des Bordes impressed at Cheltenham (Image: Getty)
The Punchestown Festival has arrived and day one looks set to be a cracker. Willie Mullins successfully retained his British Trainers title last weekend, and the Irishman can now turn his attention to bowing out of the National Hunt season in style on home soil.
Kopek Des Bordes, Ballyburn and Fact To File are likely to be a popular treble among punters, but I’m taking two of the three on. Here are my tips for day one at Punchestown…
15.40 – Irish Panther 11/1
An incredibly competitive handicap to kick off proceedings and Lark In The Mornin has been backed in the market to bounce back to his form of last year. However, there’s value elsewhere and Irish Panther has a great each-way chance.
He was never truly put in the race in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, taking the wider route and being held up, but still managed to finish 10th in a bunched finish behind Kargese. Irish Panther has some good form in the book and, with a bit of luck in running, could be primed to finally enjoy his day in the sun.
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16.15 – Kopek Des Bordes 2/5
Kopek Des Bordes produced one of the most taking performances of the meeting at the Cheltenham Festival and, after being afforded a short break, he will prove very hard to beat in the Champion Novice Hurdle.
He didn’t jump well in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle but was smart enough to put himself right at some of his obstacles before powering up the hill. The gelding has a serious engine and it is hard to see stablemate Salvator Mundi reversing the form, with Irancy favoured to follow him home instead.
Impaire Et Passe could relish the step up in trip (Image: Getty)
16.50 – Impaire Et Passe 4/1
Ballyburn’s jumping was simply too bad to forgive in the Brown Advisory and although he’ll have been schooled plenty since, he can’t be trusted. Although Lecky Watson is unbeaten this season and Stellar Story produced a good performance at the Cheltenham Festival despite his yard’s form at the meeting, Impaire Et Passe is taken to land the Champion Novice Chase.
I think the seven-year-old should relish stepping up to 3m and he has jumped well already this season. Impaire Et Passe’s most disappointing performances appear to have all been saved for Punchestown so I’m willing to overlook his third-place finish behind Ballyburn in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase in February.
18.00 – Marine Nationale 9/4
There is no doubt that Fact To File is a superb horse. He’s a great jumper, travels very strongly and is capable of getting his rivals off the bridle in a matter of seconds. But does he want a drop down to 2m? I’m not too sure.
Instead, Marine Nationale will be my play at the prices. He absolutely dotted up in the Champion Chase and even if Jonbon had not made his string of errors, he would have needed to be at his best to peg back Barry Connell’s stable star. The eight-year-old jumped well that day and found plenty for pressure, which could prove key in what is likely to be a tactical affair out in front.
Marine Nationale pulled clear of the field at Cheltenham (Image: Getty)
Punchestown Festival Day One runners and riders
14.30: Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Chase
1 Grange Island, Mr M J O’Connor
2 Cloudy Tuesday, Mr Turlough O’connor
3 Knockiel Synge, Miss Georgie Benson
4 Dromleigh, Miss L Costello
5 Fralimonti Bilbery, Mr Jack Hendrick
6 Grageen, Mr P W Gleeson
7 Haggard, Mr Rob James
8 Iriko D’airy, Mr S Cotter
9 Jet Fighter, Mr J L Scallan
10 Keeptheoldmanout, Mr J G Murphy
11 Mellow Glory, Mr F P Murphy
12 Tech Talk, Mr D G Lavery
13 Transprint, Mr A J Doyle
14 Turnupdevolume, Mr Barry Thomas Stone
15 Well Buoy, Miss Gina Andrews
16 A Mighty King, Mr L P Shanahan
15.05: Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final Handicap Hurdle
1 Timmy Tuesday, Mr J H Williamson
2 Cave Court, Mr O McGill
3 Slanagaibhgoleir, Mark Walsh
4 Blue Hop, Rachael Blackmore
5 Bright Legend, Harry Cobden
6 Bridie’s Beau, C Stone-Walsh
7 Hartur D’arc, Keith Donoghue
8 Luminous Light, Sean Flanagan
9 Rocheval (FR) Patrick Wadge
10 Stay If U Want To, Jonjo O’Neill Jr
11 Camino Rock, Gavin Brouder
12 Must Go Now, John Shinnick
13 Boyles Hill, Isabel Williams
14 Kinbara Firstdraft, J J Slevin
15 Londonofficecallin, D King
16 Crazierthandaisy, Sam Twiston-Davies
17 Jolie Jewel, Phillip Enright
18 Sammy Smart Darragh O’Keeffe
19 Down Around, H E Sexton
20 Kilta, Jonathan England
21 Billy Lee Swagger, A P Kelly
22 Noble Park, P V O’Brien
23 Almuhit, Richie McLernon
24 Buy Some Time, B Smith
25 Away To Milan, Simon Torrens
15.40: Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle
1 Gaucher, Brian Hayes
2 Brentford Hope, Jonathan Burke
3 Hunters Yarn, J J Slevin
4 Iberico Lord, Mark Walsh
5 Helvic Dream, Donagh Meyler
6 Samui, Mr J H Williamson
7 Any Road, Darragh O’Keeffe
8 Lark In The Mornin, Danny Mullins
9 Wilful, Jonjo O’Neill Jr
10 Ascending Lark, P V O’Brien
11 Impero, Danny Gilligan
12 Irish Panther, Cian Cullinan
13 God Of Thunder, D King
14 American Money, Rachael Blackmore
15 Run For Harry, C Monaghan
16 Sonny May, Sean O’Keeffe
17 Serienmond, C Stone-Walsh
16.15: Champion Novice Hurdle
1 Fleetfoot, Keith Donoghue
2 Irancy, Mark Walsh
3 Karbau, Danny Mullins
4 Kopek Des Bordes, Paul Townend
5 Salvator Mundi, Mr Patrick Mullins
6 Whinney Hill, Sam Ewing
16.50: Champion Novice Chase
1 Ballyburn, Paul Townend
2 Champ Kiely, Danny Mullins
3 Gorgeous Tom, Darragh O’Keeffe
4 Ile Atlantique, Mr Patrick Mullins
5 Impaire Et Passe, J J Slevin
6 Lecky Watson, Sean O’Keeffe
7 Slade Steel, Rachael Blackmore
8 Stellar Story, Danny Gilligan
9 Don’t Rightly Know, Harry Cobden
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17.25: Defender Bumper
1 Brother Walfrid, Mr M Kenneally
2 Cluain Chormaic, Mr E Mahon
3 Green Chef, Mr D McGill
4 Green Hint, Mr S Connor
5 Green Style, Mr B O’Neill
6 If You Believe, Mr D G Lavery
7 Laguna Beach, Mr J L Gleeson
8 Leader Des Bordes, Mr Patrick Mullins
9 Lejolicoeur Du Mou, Mr Finian Maguire
10 Lincall, Mr J M Halford
11 Maith An Buachaill, Miss J Townend
12 Mullaghgloss, Mr A P Ryan
13 Reckless, Mr J H Williamson
14 Santo Sospir, Mr H C Swan
15 Seabloom, Mr Charlie Mullins
16 So You Know, Miss Gina Andrews
17 Thiscouldbetheone, Mr Derek O’Connor
18 Brosna Shine, Mr P A King
19 Thirsty Work, Mr A Leahy
20 Wonderful Everyday, Miss R Dudfield
18.00: William Hill Champion Chase
1 Captain Guinness, Rachael Blackmore
2 El Fabiolo, Paul Townend
3 Fact To File, Mark Walsh
4 Marine Nationale, Sean Flanagan
5 Senecia, Phillip Enright
6 Solness, J J Slevin
18.35: Willie Coonan Memorial INH Flat Race
1 All For Brooke, Mr A Leahy
2 Answer That, Miss A B O’Connor
3 Au Plaisir, Mr D Doyle
4 Barley Lane, Mr Rob James
5 Bud Fox, Mr Derek O’Connor
6 Buddy Holly, Mr H C Swan
7 Certamen, Mr F R Buckley
8 Coutach, Mr Patrick Mullins
9 Danny The Champ, Mr J Kidd
10 Dorie Miller, Mr Finn Tegetmeier
11 Famous Figure, Mr R Barron
12 Galileo Sand, Mr J L Gleeson
13 I’m A Rocket Man, Mr M Sharpe
14 Jaynemax, Mr P A King
15 Kilmore Dragon, Mr E Mahon)
16 Little Boy Sivola, Miss P Elvin
17 Market Ready, Mr E P O’Brien
18 Max Meridius, Mr Charlie Mullins
19 Minella Jackpot, Mr A T Feeney
20 Our Sonny, Mr A P Ryan
21 Starting Fifteen, Mr Finian Maguire
22 The Eggler
23 Celestial Tune, Mr Barry Thomas Stone
24 Eagle Of Destiny, Mr B O’Neill
25 Scarriff Bridge, Mr L P Shanahan