Even though the Kentucky Derby, the 2000 and 1000 Guineas, and other exciting flat events are coming up this weekend, I’m still in the jumps frame of mind. Let’s examine Punchestown Festival Day Five! Saturday in Punchestown The handicap chase (3:05 pm) contains a lot of horses with worries about their stamina; the course is about four miles long, and I can imagine several of these runners not finishing. Another Choice by Matthew Smith is one horse that has no such reservations. He enjoys these tests, and although Haiti Couleurs defeated him handily in the previous Irish Grand National, his loss to History Of Fashion at Fairyhouse in December sticks out. This is a well-weighted man, and I’m expecting him to run a big race at a nice each-way price.
Next up is the Mares’ Champion Hurdle at 3:42 p.m. Considering that Brighterdaysahead was placed in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, it is regrettable that she did not start in the genuine Punchestown Champion Hurdle on Friday. She comes back here with things to prove, and I’m going to use Jade De Grugy to counter her. She has fourteen pounds to find with the favorite, according to official ratings, but I believe she can. She like Punchestown and is rarely out of the money, so she wasn’t ashamed behind Lossiemouth at Cheltenham. I’m satisfied that she’s good enough for Paul Townend. She can, in my opinion, improve Willie Mullins’ stellar record in this event.
Peter Fahey would have been understandably irritated that his horse Canal End was the reserve who did not qualify for the Irish Grand National by only one number, but I believe he can make up for it in the three-mile Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase at 4:15 p.m. He is up nine pounds for his efforts after winning a Listed handicap chase at Navan, but I believe he has more in store. JP McManus and Mark Walsh have had a memorable week, and I believe they can top it off with another triumph. With eleven victories overall, Willie Mullins has won nine of the last eleven Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle (4:50pm) renewals.
But my answer to the riddle is Nicky Henderson. Since 1999, he has produced four winners out of nine runners, and I believe Lulamba can move up to number five. Unfortunately, he was completely mugged on the line as he lost the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. I think he’s got the class to win. He is the field’s future superstar, even though several of his competitors have good flat form. He didn’t lose at Cheltenham, and I believe James Bowen will play his cards in the closing minutes. He is the real deal, has a bright future, and I believe he will prevail here. A traditional Punchestown competition, the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle (5:25 p.m.) is fiercely competitive and features a variety of profiles coming together.
He hasn’t missed the first two of his last six starts and is incredibly reliable. Last time, at Aintree, he defeated Kopeck De Mee in a handicap hurdle with 20 runners. He gained seven pounds for the marathon, but I believe he will continue to get better. The O’Neills, Richie McLernon, and the Brits have all had a great week; they can complete the raiders’ outstanding week with Wellington Arch. Saturday in Newmarket How about one for the 2000 Guineas at 3:35 p.m. instead of one for the bumper? This year’s first European Classic is an exciting period, and I think Green Impact will become a three-year-old superstar. After Monday’s race, I observed him working at Naas evening, and Jessica Harrington seems to be very happy with her charge.
I think Green Impact is overrated in the betting and underappreciated by many, especially given how well his two-year-old campaign is performing. That won’t be the case on Saturday afternoon, in my opinion.
