Punchestown Festival Tips For Day One From Robbie Power
Our horse racing ambassador Robbie Power offers us his Punchestown Festival tips ahead of one of the biggest weeks of racing in the calendar.
Punchestown Festival Tips – Day One
Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle
I think Facile Vega can bounce back from finishing second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Willie Mullins was quite critical of Paul Townend after that, but I disagreed with Willie.
I thought Paul gave him a good ride – he did nothing wrong and was beaten by the better horse on the day.
I know Il Etait Temps beat him at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown, but I fully expect Facile Vega to reverse the form. The big danger might be stablemate Diverge, who was third in the Supreme. Slower ground may suit him.
Click Below For All Our Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle Odds
Punchestown Champion Chase – Plain sailing For Energumene
The first two Grade 1s of the week are going to be about Willie Mullins and he has four of the six runners in the Champion Chase.
It should be plain sailing for Energumene.
Magic Daze (Henry De Bromhead) and Rebel Gold (Pat Foley) are good horses in their own right, but on ratings fall way behind Energumene, Blue Lord, and Gentleman De Mee. The latter might be the main danger, but for me Gentleman De Mee is much better going left-handed and wants faster ground. So everything is stacking up for Energumene.
Click Below For All Punchestown Champion Chase Odds
Punchestown Champion Novice Chase – Trip Will Suit Journey With Me
Journey With Me was a good winner on his last start at Naas.
If stepping up to three miles brings about the improvement we hope, he can win this and I think he will be better over three.
Appreciate It and Sir Gerhard have both been busy – they’ve been to Cheltenham and Fairyhouse, while Journey With Me comes in fresh.
Click Below For All Our Punchestown Champion Novice Chase Odds
Prospect in Bumper
In the last race I’m looking forward to seeing Downmexicoway for Peter Fahey.
He was very impressive when he won his point-to-point. Derek O’Connor is booked to ride him and he’s a four-year-old who could be a very nice horse to look forward to next season.
Click Below For All Our Odds In Tuesday’s 7.45pm Race
What’s It Like Not Riding At Punchestown?
I’m going to miss not riding at Punchestown – it’s always been a Festival that’s been very lucky for me.
Jessica Harrington was always successful there and being stable jockey meant success for me – I’ve won the majority of the big races there and I was leading rider twice.
I had a hip replacement done last Tuesday so I won’t even be attending this year, but I’ll be watching from the couch taking things easy and enjoying a fantastic week’s racing.
With the National Hunt season drawing to a close we are already looking ahead to next season with previews of the the 2024 Grand National and the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
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