Punchestown Racecourse: Preview and Tips for Wednesday’s Seven-Race Card

It’s day two of Punchestown Racecourse’s The Jumps Are Back meeting and today’s high-class card features two Grade Three chases alongside three hurdle races, a QR chase and a bumper.

Read on for a full preview of and tips for the Punchestown card, courtesy of Boyle Sports, who provide all the

latest horse racing betting.

First up is an extended two-mile maiden hurdle (1.55). We’ve a handful of nice bumper winners in the mix here; Minella Hollow, who has already made a start over hurdles, Kovanis, Gameball - whose winning margin was huge at 12 lengths - and Vitorio Piel, a six-length bumper winner. Gameball is bred on the same cross as the talented mare Marie’s Rock, so promises a lot on pedigree and - so far - seems to be delivering. Trainer Henry De Bromhead’s horses are bringing in plenty of victories at present, so he should have it all to play for and is sure to be the talking horse in this race.

A mares’ handicap hurdle follows, over the same trip (2.30). There are eight runners here, of which two - Galileo Springs and Flidais - won their last starts. The former looks the most likely of the pair to reproduce that form, but James Fahey’s Spick And Span looks a goof option too. This mare has a seven-pound claimer in the saddle and is now just one pound above her last winning mark from July at Ballinrobe.

Race three is a two and a half mile handicap hurdle (3.05). The topweight Nine Graces could be outclassing the rest here, but does make his seasonal reappearance here and might be vulnerable to some who are race fit and carry less weight as he has needed a run to get going in the past. Tony Mullins’ Ballycashin could be a good option, ridden by a seven-pound claimer, wearing a tongue strap for the first time here after a close third last time at Listowel. She’ll like the ground today, and has a nice chance from near the bottom of the handicap.

The first of our Grade Three races is next; the Carvill’s Hill Chase, run over two and a quarter miles (3.35). The best of the six runners on ratings is Gordon Elliott’s King Of Kingsfield, who has already had a productive season, winning two ordinary races and finishing third in the two-mile Kilbegnet Novice Chase at Roscommon last time. A step back up in trip is a positive for him, though, and he could get back to the front today under Jack Kennedy. Enjoy The Dream could be the one to chase him home, with her mares’ allowance and some good recent form to her name against both mares and geldings.

Next is another Grade Three chase, this time over two miles and seven furlongs (4.05). Gordon Elliott’s Western Fold has won each of his four starts this term, improving each time, so there should be little to prevent him from winning this on paper, but this is quicker turnaround than he has been used to. Top-rated Heart Wood could make light work of this, returning for the new season today, as he usually runs well fresh and could have an advantage at the weights.

A QR handicap chase is the penultimate race, run over the same two miles and seven furlongs (4.35). He Fitz In looks a good option here, given seven pounds by his rider after improving on his reappearance to finish a close third at Sligo last time. Aurea Fortuna has yet to win over fences, but he is in good form over the smaller obstacles at present and has run well over the larger ones in the past, so could be our winner here for Tony Martin.

Last of all is an extended two-mile four-year-old’s bumper (5.05). Most of the 10 runners have been seen on the racetrack before, but we have two newcomers here; Ifuknowuknow and Blue Rein, neither of whom make much appeal in this context. Emmet Mullins’ Takiwatanga might prove to be one of the best, having finished third of eight on debut in September, but Gordon Elliott’s new recruit from the point-to-point field will likely be the main fancy. Maverick Mack was narrowly beaten on his sole point start in April and is given a seven-pound advantage here, courtesy of his jockey.

Punchestown selections - Wednesday:

1.55 - Gameball 

2.30 - Spick And Span 

3.05 - Ballycashin 

3.35 - King Of Kingsfield 

4.05 - Heart Wood 

4.35 - Aurea Fortuna 

5.05 - Maverick Mack