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Punchestown Festival Tips - Best betting tips on Day Two

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Wed 27 Apr 2022 08:26

Jon Vine 27 Apr 2022

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Best bets on day two of the Punchestown Festival
The Punchestown Festival continues on Wednesday 27th April
The Punchestown Gold Cup headlines Wednesday's card
The Nice Guy, Ciel De Neige and American Mike feature in our day two tips

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Sean O'Keeffe (R, black and white cap) on The Nice Guy clear the last before Paul Townend (white cap) on Minella Cocooner to win The Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. (Getty)

The Punchestown Festival rolls into its second day on Wednesday. Three Grade One races headline day two's card, including the lucrative Punchestown Gold Cup.

We've taken a look through the full card on Wednesday and picked out our best Punchestown Festival day two tips.

Day Two Tips

Punchestown Festival Day Two Card
NAP Of The Day - The Nice Guy
Next Best - Ciel De Neige
Feature Race Tips
Value Bet 1 - American Mike
Value Bet 2 - Outback Flyer
Value Bet 3 - The Road To Fame

Punchestown Festival Day Two Card

Time	Title
3:40pm	Adare Manor Series Final Handicap Hurdle 2m4f
4:15pm	Auction Hurdle Series Final 2m4f
4:45pm	Louis Fitzgerald Hurdle 2m4f
5:20pm	Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m
5:55pm	Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1) 3m
6:30pm	Champion Flat Race (Grade 1) 2m
7:05pm	OMC Claims Handicap Chase 2m5f
7:45pm	Mares Flat Race (Grade 3) 2m3

Punchestown Festival Day Two Tips

NAP Of The Day - The Nice Guy

The Nice Guy5:20pm Punchestown Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 3mGET 5/2 HERE

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While I remain a fan of Minella Crooner and it's hard to knock Minella Cocooner, THE NICE GUY has to be the one to side with after the outstanding performance he produced to win the Albert Bartlett.

Willie Mullins threw his seven-year-old into that Grade One on the back of one maiden hurdle run over 19 furlongs. Sean O'Keeffe's mount tanked through the race, hit the front approaching the last and sprinted clear on the run to the line to win by five lengths.

To win a race of that stature with just one previous outing over hurdles under his belt was a monumental effort, and I don't think he had a particularly hard race either. 5/2 about The Nice Guy seems like an excellent price.

Next Best - Ciel De Neige

Ciel De Neige7:05pm Punchestown OMC Claims Handicap Chase (Grade A) 2m5fGET 10/3 HERE

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Based on what he's produced over fences this season, CIEL DE NEIGE could be very well handicapped running off a mark of just 149.

Willie Mullins' seven-year-old won just two of his 17 starts over hurdles, but has so far won three of his four chase starts. Mark Walsh was in the saddle as Ciel De Neige made a winning chase debut at Thurles and Mullins' charge went on to complete a hat-trick with two further victories at Navan and Punchestown.

Ciel De Neige was narrowly beaten by French Dynamite in a Grade Three at Thurles in March, where he was giving six pounds to the winner. Despite running up to an RPR of 158 in that losing effort, the handicapper decided not to up his official rating, meaning Ciel De Neige will carry just 11-1 in what looks a thoroughly winnable race.

Feature Race Tips

Read our full guide to the 2022 Punchestown Gold Cup to find out who we're backing in the main event on day two.

If you plan on watching any of Wednesday's races via a mobile device, then check out our Punchestown Gold Cup Live Stream page.

facile vega — Facile Vega (right) beating American Mike in The Weatherbys Champion Bumper on day two of The Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. (Getty)

Value Bet 1 - American Mike

American Mike 6:30pm Punchestown Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 1) 2mGET 10/3 HERE

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I'm in no way knocking Facile Vega, as he's clearly an incredibly talented horse. However, the rain that came on Champion Bumper day certainly favoured the winner more than AMERICAN MIKE, so on better ground I think there's value to be found siding with Gordon Elliott's runner.

American Mike looked like an excellent prospect earlier in the season and did his reputation no harm in the Champion Bumper, where he stayed on gamely up the hill to finish just four lengths behind Facile Vega. Both his breeding and the way he travels suggests that quicker ground will suit American Mike and it wouldn't be a huge shock if he was to get the better of the odds-on favourite.

Value Bet 2 - Outback Flyer

Outback Flyer E/W3:40pm Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle 2m4fGET 14/1 HERE

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Peter Fahy runs three in this ultra-competitive handicap and I quite like the chances of OUTBACK FLYER. Fahey's mare has run in five maiden hurdles this season, finishing fourth twice and third at Fairyhouse in January. Outback Flyer was travelling nicely behind the leaders on her second hurdles start in November, but clipped heels as she tried to make her move and slipped up on the turn for home.

Last time out, Tommy Brett's mount claimed an overdue victory at Wexford, where she kicked clear after the last to claim an impressive five-length win. Outback Flyer now makes her handicap debut off a mark of just 111, which seems lenient when you consider she clocked an RPR of 121 when winning at Wexford.

Value Bet 3 - The Road To Fame

The Road To Fame E/W4:15pm Punchestown Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final 2m4fGET 20/1 HERE

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Glengouly and Sam's Choice finished first and second in a maiden hurdle at Gowran Park back in January and both sit prominently in the market. THE ROAD TO FAME finished a close third that day, on what was his hurdles debut, so I fail to see why Eoin Doyle's seven-year-old sits so far adrift of the other two in the market.

Following that three-length defeat, The Road To Fame won on better ground at Limerick. Donagh Meyler's mount was almost run down in the closing stages that day, but he was giving five pounds to the runner-up and the third has come out and won since. There's more to come from this Fame And Glory gelding and he could run better than his odds suggest.