DAVY RUSSELL blog: Punchestown Festival Wednesday

A big day for me as I am actually working as a pundit on RTE on day two of the Festival. I’m really excited about it and have been doing plenty of homework ahead of what promises to be a real good day’s racing with a couple more Grade One’s…

WEDNESDAY

PUNCHESTOWN

4.15pm

It will be interesting to see how Three Card Brag (pictured below) gets on after finishing fifth in Cheltenham behind Stay Away Fay in the Albert Bartlett. He’s 2lbs worse off with the third Sandor Clegane ? who is probably the one to beat off these terms. They look the pair to focus on and the more rain that falls, the better both of their chances. Keep an eye out for Senior Chief who is another smart one on a bit of a roll since his February win here. Those big field Punchestown maiden hurdles take some winning and he’s been good in Navan since. ⭐ STARSPORTS.BET MARKET ⭐

4.45pm

I suppose most will concentrate on Grangeclare West and Imagine, but there may be value elsewhere. Grangeclare West hasn’t been brilliant the last twice and Imagine has had a busy campaign. There nay be a bit of value in Da Capo Glory ? who has some form, while Tag Man is hard to rule out too. ⭐ STARSPORTS.BET MARKET ⭐

5.20pm (Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle – Grade One)

Gaelic Warrior ? will be a warm order for this on the back of his good second in the Ballymore the last day. He looks a smart prospect who may just relish another step up in trip to this three miles. That Said, I thought our lad Salvador Ziggy ran a cracker in Cheltenham and he looks to be coming to himself now. He sees this trip out really well and is a player if conditions don’t deteriorate. ⭐ STARSPORTS.BET MARKET ⭐

5.55pm (Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup – Grade One)

Now this looks a horse race. You’ve the first two home from last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Ryanair winner and a few other solid graded chasers. Listen, it probably has to be Galopin Des Champs ? (pictured below) on the back of a hell of a win the last day. He looked the winner all the way and just had too much class in the end. However, you never know how hard a race they had and he’ll have to be at his best to see off Bravemansgame. Envoi Allen looked back to somewhere near his best last time too so it has the potential to be a classic. ⭐ STARSPORTS.BET MARKET ⭐

6.30pm (Champion Flat Race – Grade One)

Another Cheltenham hero lines up here with A Dream To Share ? likely to be hard to beat. This is a different test on a different day, but he looks top class. Stablemate Tullyhill looks his biggest danger if he can cope with a lack of experience. ⭐ STARSPORTS.BET MARKET ⭐

Good Luck
Davy