Up close and personal with a superstar
Friday is traditionally one of the busier days at the Punchestown festival as punters begin their long May Bank Holiday weekend in style.
Anyone planning on travelling on Friday is in for a treat, as one of the best horses in the world right now takes centre stage for the main event of the day at 5.30 in the Champion Hurdle.
We of course are talking about Faugheen.
With Jezki in action on Thursday there is really no competition for the ace runner from Closutton so there could be value elsewhere
2015 EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase 16.20
There’s not the inconsiderable sum of €100,000 on offer for the winner of this renewal and we have to say the field is shaping up to very very competitive indeed.
There is a strong UK contingent with Irish Cavalier and Thomas Crapper crossing the water for the action.
Both performed well at Cheltenham and could upset some of the home favorites.
Val de Ferbet under Ruby Walsh will carry top weight and Willie Mullins also saddles Tennis Cap and Blood Cotilo also in the field.
Rebecca Curtis is another trainer with more than one horse entered and after Irish Cavalier performed so well on Tuesday the horse has to be considered a good option for Friday afternoon.
Doing Fine is also in the mix for Curtis but we feel the former has the edge
Thomas Crapper will have the legs for the trip while Mullins is in such fine form this week that it’s almost impossible to back against him.
We think even with top weight Ruby will take home the first of the day’s key features.
Champion Hurdle 17.30
It’s such a disappointment that this race will only field four contenders. The racing industry is heavily backed by taxpayers money and surely something can be done to entice trainers and owners to stump up against top class opposition.
It’s perhaps an argument for another day, but as it is you will get no value here on the favouite so it’s all about doubles or trebles if you’re including Faugheen as your nap of the day.
Jezki’s withdrawl means Arctic Fire takes up the mantle as pretender to the throne, while Tiger Roll and Dell Arca are making up the numbers for their respective trainers of Gordon Elliott and David Pipe.
Unless absolute disaster strikes Faugheen will complete the perfect season and perhaps take a step closer to the legendary status that already seems assured.
Champion Novice Hurdle 18.05
Gigginstown run two in this race and we have a serious fancy for the Bryan Cooper mount Alpha Des Obeaux. That’s keeping in mind he fell at Aintree but we feel that Mouse Morris horse could have serious potential.
The other horse from Michael O’Leary’s stable is No More Heroes who came home fifth on Wednesday and may not have recovered in time for this action.
Willie Mullins has the favourite under his care in Nichols Canyon, who was superb in his triumph in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree this month.
The horse oozes class and it will take a special performance to try and upset the fine animal coming into its prime.
Mullins has back up in Outlander and Sempre Medici, who won’t be far off ,while Sandra Hughes completes the field with Phils Magic.
There is just something about Cooper’s mount that has us intrigued and even though on the day we can still see Mullins taking the win, we have a soft spot for Mouse Morris and he could very well be celebrating on Friday evening.
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