Andrew’s Punchestown Festival day three race by race betting guide

Drama, drama, and more drama has been the name of the game for this year’s Punchestown Festival, but we have had a few results go our way, and let’s keep the balls rolling on Ladbrokes Stayers Hurdle Day.

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🏇 Punchestown 2:30 Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle – 2m½f (4yo+)The Other Mozzie was a good winner over fences at Ayr on Scottish Grand National weekend and has to have a huge chance here on a much-reduced mark back over hurdles. HARRY’S LEGACY is a light-raced seven-year-old who makes his handicap debut off what looks like a lenient mark. He has run in some decent maiden hurdles, and even though he failed to win last time out when sent off as a well-fancied favourite, he strikes me as a horse who will excel in this kind of test. Harry’s Legacy is a strong traveller who will find this race run to suit, and granted some luck in running, he can play a big part in the finish.

Magic Day won at Kilbeggan last week despite not being in love with the track. Back on a more galloping track here, he can continue his progress. Turn And Finish, and Mercury Mission are others to note at big prices.

Selection: Harry’s Legacy (e/w)Danger: The Other Mozzie🐎 Bet on Harry’s Legacy with Betfred 🐎

🏇 Punchestown 3:05 Listed Frontline Security Handicap Chase – 2m½f (5yo+)A very open look to this contest, but if TULLYHILL can show the form that saw him chase him, Majborough and Mistergif, it would see him hard to beat here despite being burdened with top weight. He was sent off as an 11/4 favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last season, so he is clearly a very talented animal, and if you can forgive him his bad run at Thurles in February, he has standout claims.

The UK raider Keep Running has been in the form of his life this season and looks like the likely pace angle. Sean Bowen, the recently crowned UK champion jockey, will ensure that there will be no hiding place as he takes the ride. Dont Go Yet has been running well in similar contests this season and is one to respect at an each way price. Others to note are Mirazur West, who got off the mark over fences last time out, and the hat-trick-seeking Spinning Web.

Selection: Tullyhill 5/1 (e/w)Danger: Dont Ley Go 14/1 (e/w)Current Betting: Tullyhill 5/1, Jasko Des Dames 8/1, Keep Running 8/1, Midnight It Is 8/1, Aspire Tower 9/1, Champagne Mahler 9/1, Mirazur West 9/1, 11/1 bar.🐎 Bet on Tullyhill with SBK 🐎

🏇 Punchestown 3:40 Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase – 4m1f (5yo+)The Louche Cup has a habit of throwing up shock results, and don’t be surprised if history is repeating itself here. But, even so, I find it hard to get away from VANILLIER.

He bolted up over 3m1f over this banks course in February and was an unlucky loser in the Cheltenham Festival Cross Country race the following month. You can forgive him for his run in the Grand National, as he never looked to be going at any stage of the race.

Not back at a track where we know he excels against lesser oppositions, they may find it hard to keep him within their sights if he gets into his rhythm out on the lead.

Transprint, who was a last-gasp winner here on Tuesday, will have a good chance of filling a place. But last year’s 2nd place finisher, Three By Two, can prove the biggest threat.

Selection: VanillierDanger: Three By Two🐎 Bet on Vanillier with talkSPORT BET 🐎

🏇 Punchestown 4:15 Listed Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle – 2m7½f (4yo+)Any one of these 25 runners has a realistic chance of winning here, and you would be foolish to let anyone talk you out of a gut feeling here. My gut feeling is to give WIN SOME LOSE SOME one more chance to redeem himself after his poor display at the Cheltenham Festival.

Coming into the Cheltenham Festival, he showed progressive form all season, and it was when he was steeped up to this trip at Leopardstown that he showed the most. This will only be his third run at this extended trip and even off his new mark, he should have another win in.

Doddiethegreat got the better of Jeriko Du Reponet at Cheltenham, and there shouldn’t be much between them again. But if they hang onto Jeriko Du Reponet for one crack after the last, he should be bang there. Stoner’s Choice’s tough front-running style will take him deep into the race, and he has a big each-way chance for the visiting Fergal O’Brien team.

Selection: Win Some Lose Some 12/1 (e/w)Danger: Stoner’s Choice 33/1 (e/w)Current Betting: Park Of Kings 15/2, Jeriko Du Reponet 17/2, Beat The Bat 10/1, Bill Joyce 10/1, Doddiethegreat 10/1, Ballybow 11/1, Flicker Of Hope 11/1, 11/1 bar.🐎 Bet on Win Some Lose Some with bet365 🐎

🏇 Punchestown 4:50 Listed Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle – 2m½f (4yo+)The decision to skip Fairyhouse may be repaid in spades here, as the five-year-old SIXANDAHALF looks to leave the disappointment of being run down in the shadows of the post at the Cheltenham Festival behind her.

She oozed class at Cheltenham but may have done too much throughout the race, but with this drop-down in class, the Gavin Cromwell-trained mare will prove a tough nut to crack.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Timetoshine has done exactly that in her hurdling career, winning all three of her starts. This is a big step up from anything she has faced so far, but you can’t fault an unbeaten record. Karamoja finished behind the Sixandahalf at Cheltenham but stepped up on that performance when finishing 3rd in the Grade 1 Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Selection: SixandahalfDanger: Karamoja🐎 Bet on Sixandahalf with Paddy Power 🐎

🏇 Punchestown 5:25 Grade 1 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase – 2m½f (5yo+)This has the feel and look of a very weak renewal of the Grade 1 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase, and even though he tried to bring the final two fences home with him in the Arkle Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, it’s hard to get away from MAJBOROUGH.

He was by far the best horse in the Arkle, and even considering he made two horrendous mistakes at the final two fences, Majborough was still only beaten 3/4 of a length. Only By Night was a short-head in front of him that day, and with a clear round, it’s hard to see her confirming that form today.

There have been a lot of shocks this week, but this should be plain sailing for the horse known as Big Maj.

Selection: Majborough 4/9Danger: Only By Night 9/2Current Betting: Majborough 4/9, Only By Night 9/2, Rubaud 9/1, Brookie 16/1, Jeannot Lapin 20/1, Jessie Evans 33/1🐎 Bet on Majborough with Betfred 🐎

🏇 Punchestown 6:00 Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle – 2m7½f (4yo+)Teahupoo was a good winner of this race last season and has an obvious chance of repeating that win after going down fighting to Bob Olinger in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham. But, at his price, I will take him on, given that he hasn’t been at his best in his two starts this season.

ROCKY’S DIAMOND was nine lengths behind Teahupoo at Cheltenham, but this five-year-old has so much more to offer. Given his inexperience at Grade 1 level, he ran a massive race, and now, with that experience under his belt, he can close the gap with Teahupoo. This week has not been a good one for the fancied runners, so there is no reason why Rocky’s Diamond can’t pull off another minor shock here.

Hiddenvally Lake tightened Robcours grip on the stayers hurdle division when taking the Liverpool Hurdle and has to be given the highest respect. But his slight worry is that Henry de Bromhead’s horses don’t always shine at the Punchestown Festival after running at Cheltenham and or Aintree. Crambo is another runner who may be worth following back on a right-handed track.

Selection: Rocky’s Diamond 10/1 (e/w)Danger: Teahupoo 2/1Current Betting: Teahupoo 2/1, Hiddenvally Lake 6/1, Rocky’s Diamond 10/1, Home By The Lee 12/1, Asterion Folonge 16/1 Crambo 16/1, Jetara 16/1, 50/1 bar.🐎 Bet on Rocky’s Diamond with SBK 🐎

🏇 Punchestown 6:35 JP & M Doyle (C & G) INH Flat Race – 2m½f (4-7yo)A tricky closer to day three of the Punchestown Festival, but one where it can pay to stick with ‘Willie’s in the bumper’, and that one is KSAR FATAL. He was an impressive Gorwan bumper winner that has produced winners such as Journey With Me, Tullyhill, Port Joulain, and the multiple Grade 1 winner and three-time Cheltenham Festival winner, Bob Olinger.

That bumper has been a good guide over the years and given how impressive Ksar Fatal was at Gowran, any normal improvement will make him hard to beat here.

Dani Donadoni was a good winner on debut as well and should be more than capable of fighting out a finish, whereas El Cairos can give David Maxwell another good spin on the back of a 5th-place finish in the Champion Bumper.

Selection: Ksar FatalDanger: Dani Donadoni🐎 Bet on Ksar Fatal with Tote 🐎

About the author

Andrew Halligan

My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.

You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).

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