I love the Punchestown Festival. I’ve never been but it is where Quatre Heures had his finest moment in 2006 winning the Grade 1 tote.ie Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at 9/2, ridden by Mick Fitzgerald and beating WP’s favourite Mister Hight (9/4) ridden by Ruby Walsh and Jessie Harrington’s Breathing Fire (11/4) ridden by Robbie Power.
To be fair Punchestown comprises a mixed bag with the Grade 1s featuring alongside much lesser fare. We get under way over the banks with the traditional curtain raiser, the excellently named Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Chase (For the Ladies Perpetual Cup). Father Breen, parish priest at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Ballymore Eustace in County Kildare was known as “The Racing Priest”. He first went to the Cheltenham Festival in 1964 and watched the first of Arkle’s three Gold Cup wins. He was also a regular at the Arc de Triomphe where he would say Mass for the Irish racegoers at a local hotel, as he did for years at Cheltenham. He was a syndicate owner with which he won over £500,000. He wrote a tipping column for the Kildare Post and tipped Grand National winners Hedgehunter and Numbersixvalverde. He was also known for giving out communion at the Galway races, dressed in his vestments. His funeral in 2009 was concelebrated by 37 priests and mourners in attendance included Kieren Fallon, Dermot Weld and Jim Bolger.
This year’s runners do not include any obvious candidates so we’ll move on to the first big one.
4.20 2m Herald Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (5yo+)
So this all revolves around the Supreme Novices’ at Cheltenham. There’s no issue about recovery time because it was 42 days ago. Readers will know that Cheltenham got off to the best possible start for me with long odds winner Labaik**** showing what he can do if he consents to race. I’m happy to accept that caveat which gives us a very appealing 5/2 and, for me, represents excellent value to oppose the favourite Melon (11/10) to repeat the 1-2.
5.30 2m BoyleSports Champion Steeplechase (Grade 1) (5yo+)
Un de Sceaux**** (Evens) at two miles on good to yielding should be absolutely fine in this one. His headstrong but undoubted talent was forcefully confirmed by taking the field apart in the Ryanair and I think that he could have done the same in the Champion Chase. Like Labaik he’s another with a mind of his own but has shown that, on his day, he is virtually unbeatable.
6.05 2m Goffs Land Rover Bumper (4-5yo)
Rapid Escape* (7/4) is highly thought of, with an impressive Point win on his only outing to date at Tinahely in February. He cost a cool £240,000 after that but is taken on trust in his first bumper. Could be a bit green (he’s a chestnut but you know what I mean!).
6.40 3m1f Growise Champion Novice Steeplechase (Grade 1) (5yo+)
If the bumper horse wins, Gigginstown should follow up comfortably here with Disko** (5/4), a horse I have a lot of time for. He’s beaten mightily impressive Our Duke (winner of the Irish Grand National) and was a decent third to Yorkhill in the JLT. Two stars because he is yet to prove himself at this distance.
Good luck!
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