Best bets on day two of the Punchestown Festival on Wednesday 26th April
The Punchestown Gold Cup headlines the card on day two
Nucky Johnson, Gaelic Warrior and Ha D'Or feature among our best betting tips
Expired
Punchestown races. (Getty)
The red carpet will be rolled out for Galopin Des Champs on Wednesday, as Willie Mullins' Cheltenham hero makes his final outing of the season in the Punchestown Gold Cup. Attendees on day two will have three Grade Ones to enjoy in total, along with a couple of good handicaps and two valuable bumpers.
Punchestown Festival Day 2 Tips - Wednesday 26th April
Race 1 - Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Tips
If LOW LIE THE FIELDS (33/1) could return to the form we saw earlier in the season, then I thought he could run well for Hugh Morgan and Henry De Bromhead. I'll just be having a small bet though, as Wednesday's opener looks extremely difficult.
Race 2 - Auction Hurdle Series Final Tips
Despite both shaping like thorough three-mile sloggers, Sandor Clegane and Three Card Brag have been dropped down in trip to contest this series final. Both could be vulnerable to a speedier sort, so I'll take them on with NUCKY JOHNSON (15/2), who finished third behind the two market leaders on his hurdles debut at Galway.
Since then, Noel Meade's five-year-old has won two two-mile maidens, before finishing last of the six in the Grade Two on Fairyhouse Gold Cup day. Nucky Johnson seems ready for this step up in distance and, if the race isn't run at a frenetic pace, it could be set up for this decent closer.
Race 3 - Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle Tips
In November, I backed GRANGECLARE WEST for the Ballymore, following a superb maiden hurdle victory at Navan. Willie Mullins' seven-year-old never travelled an inch when fifth in the Lawlor's Of Naas next time out, and regressed again with a sixth-place finish in the Nathaniel Lacy at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Paul Townend's mount takes a huge drop down in class here and he's been given plenty of time to get over those disappointing efforts at Grade One level. The favourite should be very hard to beat.
Race 4 - Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle Tips
As soon as Patrick Mullins got off GAELIC WARRIOR (10/11) after the Ballymore, he suggested that a step up to three miles could be imminent. The favourite is clearly the most talented horse in this race and switching to a right-handed track will certainly help.
Gaelic Warrior is far from an uncomplicated, straightforward sort, which makes him hard to back at an odds-on price. Then again, I look through the rest of the field, and I don't fancy any of them to turn the favourite over. 10/11 is good enough to take at the moment.
It's hard to side against A Dream To Share, considering what he's achieved this season, but I feel the value bet in this contest is IT'S FOR ME (8/1), who was still the favourite for the Champion Bumper the week before the Cheltenham Festival.
It's For Me drifted out to 6/1 before the off and travelled keenly at the rear of the field for Paul Townend. Whereas John Gleeson found a smooth passage into contention aboard A Dream To Share, Townend was forced to weave through traffic a number of times to mount a challenge and It's For Me ran on well to finish a fairly close fifth.
With Patrick riding Tullyhill, Jodie Townend replaces her brother in It's For Me's saddle and she's no stranger to bumper success at this high-profile meeting.
Race 7 - HSS Hire Handicap Chase Tips
Royal Rendezvous carried top-weight to victory in this race 12 months ago and Danny Mullins mount has to be greatly respected. However, HA D'OR (5/2) has clearly been handed a lenient opening handicap mark of 140 and Paul Townend's mount should be very hard to beat.
Ha D'Or ran out an impressive winner on his chase debut at Fairyhouse earlier in the season, thrashing The Goffer by 11 lengths. Mullins' six-year-old hasn't been at his best recently, losing narrowly to Indiana Jones at Navan, in-between two lengthy defeats in high-quality races. Mullins did think highly enough of Ha D'Or to run his novice in the Arkle last time out and he should take plenty of beating with just 10-11 on his back.
Race 8 - Weatherbys Mares Flat Race Tips
Willie Mullins' team will saddle five of the top six in the betting ahead of this Grade Three. Patrick Mullins has gone for Fun Fun Fun but I, again, prefer the mount of Jodie Townend, JUNTA MARVEL (10/3).
Junta Marvel kicked clear of a well-backed Gavin Cromwell favourite to make a winning debut for Mullins at Limerick last month. The way she put that race to bed, when giving seven pounds to the runner-up, was quite impressive and Junta Marvel can build on that performance on Wednesday.
Verdict
Gaelic Warrior is our NAP of the day on day two at Punchestown. Ha D'Or is our next best. It's For Me would be our best value bet.
Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m: Gaelic Warrior NAP @10/11 at bet365 - 15 Units
HSS Hire Handicap Chase Tips: Ha D'Or Next Best @5/2 at Hollywood bets - 10 Units
Champion I.N.H. Flat Race Tips: It's For Me Value Bet 1 @8/1 at QuinnBet - 5 Units
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