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Punchestown Festival 2023 Tips - Top tips on day one

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Tue 25 Apr 2023 08:01

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Jon Vine 25 Apr 2023

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Best bets on day one of the Punchestown Festival on Tuesday 25th April
The Punchestown Champion Chase headlines the card on day one
Nikini, Il Etait Temps and Feronily feature among our best betting tips

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Danny Mullins riding Il Etait Temps clear the last to win The Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown. (Getty)

Punchestown Day 1 Tips

Race 1 - Mares Novice Hurdle Tips
Race 2 - Champion Novice Hurdle Tips
Race 3 - Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle Tips
Race 4 - Punchestown Champion Chase Tips
Race 5 - Goffs Defender Bumper Tips
Race 6 - Champion Novice Chase Tips
Race 7 - Ladies Perpetual Cup Tips
Race 8 - Oak Lodge Landscapes Flat Race Tips

The final major meeting of the National Hunt season begins in Ireland on Tuesday, as the 2023 Punchestown Festival gets underway. The Punchestown version of the Champion Chase tops the billing on day one, with two further Grade Ones featuring on a stacked card.

Here are our best betting tips on day one of the 2023 Punchestown Festival.

Punchestown Festival Day 1 Tips - Tuesday 25th April

Race 1 - Mares Novice Hurdle Tips

The Punchestown Festival will likely turn into another procession for Willie Mullins and his record in this Listed contest is very strong. NIKINI (5/1) finished a good fourth in the Grade Three Mares' Bumper at this meeting 12 months ago and went on to win two of her first three starts over hurdles during an encouraging first half to the season.

Nikini was well beaten in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, but that run came on the back of a lengthy absence and she didn't enjoy the smoothest passage throughout that rough race. Mullins skipped the Grade One at Fairyhouse to target this race with Nikini and I suspect she'll be very hard to beat.

Race 2 - Champion Novice Hurdle Tips

When Impaire Et Passe - who's entered in the 2m4f Grade One on Friday - comes out of the betting, Facile Vega will be an extremely short price. That would leave IL ETAIT TEMPS (5/1) sitting on very tempting odds and I wouldn't be surprised if Mullins grey turned the favourite again.

As Facile Vega beat a retreat, Il Etait Temps stormed to an impressive victory in the Grade One at the Dublin Racing Festival, thrashing both Inthepocket and Irish Point, who went on to record Grade One wins at Aintree's Grand National meeting. Things didn't go to plan for Danny Mullins' mount in the Supreme at Cheltenham, but the return to a more speed-favoured track will certainly suit.

Race 3 - Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle Tips

With Charlie O'Dwyer's seven-pound claimer reducing his burden to just 9-12, ONE LAST TANGO (14/1) looks to be in with an excellent chance.

Eoin Griffin's six-year-old secured back-to-back hurdles victory back in October, before finishing a decent third behind the impressive Winter Fog at Leopardstown over Christmas.

One Last Tango would have traded very short in-running at Fairyhouse last time out, but Griffin's charge couldn't get past the front-running Henning under an eight-pound penalty. Back down in handicap company, under a feather weight, this course-and-distance winner offers plenty of each-way value.

Race 4 - Punchestown Champion Chase Tips

Read our full guide to the 2023 Punchestown Champion Chase to find out who we're backing in Tuesday's main event.

If you plan on watching any of Tuesday's races from Punchestown, check out our Punchestown Champion Chase Live Stream page.

Race 5 - Goffs Defender Bumper Tips

Speculatrix wasn't particularly impressive when winning on debut here at Punchestown in February. Gordon Elliott's runner carries no penalty for that victory, though, and Harry Swan takes a valuable five pounds off his back once again.

Jessica Harrington's stable has been flying of late and I like the look of ARUNTOTHEQUEEN (16/1), who'll be ridden by Aine O'Connor. This four-year-old Milan filly is the second foal out of Burn And Turn, who won on the flat, over hurdles and over fences for Harrington and JP O'Flaherty during her career on the track. She could go well first time out.

Race 6 - Champion Novice Chase Tips

Emmet Mullins is known as an unconventional trainer, but I don't think I've ever seen a campaign like what FERONILY (10/1) has enjoyed this season.

A point-to-point winner for Ellmarie Holden in November, Feronily placed behind Ile Atlantique and A Dream To Share in two classy bumpers, before finishing fourth on his hurdles debut in the Grade Two Premier Novices' Hurdle at Kelso in March. On the back of an easy maiden hurdle triumph at Limerick, Mullins' star made his chasing debut in open company, splitting Bachasson and Chacun Pour Soi with an excellent second-place finish in a Grade Three at Cork.

Feronily will drop back into novice company on Tuesday. Journey With Me is yet to prove he's a Grade One quality animal. Sir Gerhard and Appreciate It both had hard races at Cheltenham and Fairyhouse, and Classic Getaway has been out injured since November. In short, this could be an excellent opportunity for Feronily to cap and weird and wonderful campaign with a surprise Grade One triumph.

Race 7 - Ladies Perpetual Cup Tips

VITAL ISLAND (5/4) returns to defend his crown and the defending champion's claims are extremely strong. Barry Walsh's mount beat a Willie Mullins hot-pot in this race 12 months ago and ran well behind Delta Work over the banks on his reappearance. Vital Island has won his last two starts between the flags and should be very hard to beat.

Race 8 - Oak Lodge Landscapes Flat Race Tips

Given A Dream To Share's heroics this season, stablemate Joyeux Vivo has to be watched carefully. As does Downmexicoway, who ran up to a very good level when winning on his sole point-to-point start.

The fact that Willie Mullins, who often farms the bumpers in Ireland, has just one runner in this contest has to be seen as a tip in itself. Patrick Mullins rides NINTH LOCH (7/2), who's pedigree reads more like a 2000 Guineas contender than a National Hunt horse. Mullins' newcomer is by Footstepsinthesand and out of a Galileo mare. A strong debut performance is expected.

Verdict

Punchestown Festival Day One

Vital Island is our NAP of the day on day one of the Punchestown Festival. Nikini is our next best in the opener. One Last Tango and Aruntothequeen are our top each-way tips.

Vital Island

NAP

@5/4 - 15 Units

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Nikini

Next Best

@5/1 - 10 Units

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

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One Last Tango

Value Bet 1

@14/1 - 5 Units

50% back up to £25

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Aruntothequeen

Value Bet 2

@16/1 - 5 Units

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad

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