It’s been a tough week for the punters so far.
But lots of good races to get your teeth into. I’m going to start with one of the most difficult races on the card – the 6.05pm. A quagmire handicap hurdle with 25 runners that would have the biggest of form nerds scratching their head, but I’ve had a tip at the track for a Charles Byrnes horse Oscar Lantern that I will have a small each way wager on.
In the feature, the Ladbrokes Stayers Hurdle, Alpha Des Obeaux is certainly a worthy favourite. He gave Thistlecrack the nearest thing to a battle at Cheltenham and always runs well. The problem is, even though he’s only finished out of the first two once in his career, he’s also only won twice.
Diamond King is popular in the betting, having been seriously impressive in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham. He steps up in class but theres lots of faith in him in the market.
Shanehill, who finished the same distance behind Thistlecrack at Aintree as Alpha Des Obeaux did at Cheltenham is surprisingly weak in the betting but I am going to buck the trend and side with him.
Douvan is an unbackable price at this point but for the forecast I think Ttebob could chase him home in the Ryanair Chase. He lost his way a bit mid season but could come back and Jessica Harrington’s horses have been running superbly this week.
In the La Touch Josses Orders is priced the one to beat after his second at the Cheltenham festival.
He’s been drifting in the market and money has come for JP McManus’ other runner Cantlow, which is putting me off, so I am going to go for Bless The Wings, he was denied by a short head in the Irish Grand National.
Hopefully something will click to warm us up at a wintery festival. Happy Punchestown punting!
