Wednesday sees Day Two of the Punchestown Festival including one of the races of the week - the Punchestown Gold Cup - where Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs will aim for another Grade 1 victory.
Our top tipping duo of Alan Kelly and Charlie McCann have the Day Two action covered with their free Punchestown tips, including a 14/1 selection in the feature race of the day.
Alan Kelly - 5:25pm Punchestown - Corach Rambler (Each-Way)
While it was impossible not to be impressed with Galopin Des Champs’ second Gold Cup victory at the Cheltenham Festival, Willie Mullins’ outstanding stayer has been beaten on his last two visits to Punchestown. At a meeting that has produced its fair share of shocks over the years, I want to take on Paul Townend’s mount at a very short price.
The first place to start is obviously with the horse that beat the favourite in both of those Punchestown races, Martin Brassil’s Fastorslow, who unseated his rider at the 16th at Cheltenham when bang in contention. I think JJ Slevin’s mount has a good chance of beating Galopin Des Champs for a third time, but from a value perspective, the double-figure odds about Lucinda Russell’s CORACH RAMBLER (Each-Way) are too generous to resist.
It may turn out to be a blessing in disguise that Derek Fox’s mount got no further than the first fence in the Grand National before unseating his rider following a stumble. The 10-year-old has 13 lengths to find with Galopin on Gold Cup form, but I expect things to be much closer under today’s conditions.
Charlie McCann - 6:00pm Punchestown - The Goffer (Each-Way)
James de Berlais ran a terrific race in the Topham under top-weight, and he is a must for any shortlist. He travelled like much the best horse at Aintree but was picked up by Arizona Cardinal from the elbow. Despite top-weight he holds excellent claims.
There are, surprisingly, no odds available on the fascinating Grade 3 2m 4f+ Handicap Chase, which is a shame as I can’t decide whether THE GOFFER (Each-Way) should be 8/1 or double those odds as he drops back down in distance.
I remember vividly how well the selection was going in the 2023 Ultima - a race we highlighted above has worked out very well - before fading into fourth having led between three out and two out.
He is invariably campaigned over further and travelled well until his stamina gave way as they crossed the Melling Road a second time in the Grand National last month. His last start at this trip resulted in his last victory back in February 2023 at Leopardstown.
There is every likelihood he will find things happening too quickly and/or Aintree has left its mark, but I am convinced he is worth a try back at two-and-half miles, and he gets the each-way vote. Note many of the leading bookmakers are offering five places each way.
This is not the strongest renewal of this Grade 1 Champion Chase, despite the presence of Queen Mother Champion Chase 1-2 Captain Guinness and Gentleman De Mee. The Cheltenham championship contest was diluted somewhat with odds-on favourite El Fabiolo pulling up and old rival Jonbon having to miss the race.
With the ground unlikely to be suitable for Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge, this looks like a good opportunity for one of the two mare’s in the race, DINOBLUE (Nap), to record her second Grade 1 victory of the season in receipt of 7lb from her male rivals.
Willie Mullins’ daughter of Doctor Dino has already finished in front of Captain Guinness, Gentleman De Mee and Fil Dor this season and lost little in defeat when trying to concede 5lb to Limerick Lace in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. An impressive winner of a handicap over course and distance 12 months ago, Mark Walsh’s mount can provide the Closutton trainer with yet another Grade 1 winner.
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