DAVY RUSSELL Fri: Punchestown Festival

There are only a couple of days left of the Punchestown Festival and I’ve got two nice rides to look forward to again. Three Stripe Life goes in one of the two Grade Ones on the card as he seems to have come out of Aintree in grand form. These are my thoughts on those two rides and the other Grade One featuring that mare Honeysuckle…

DAPHNE MOON – 4.50pm

Good old Daphne Moon gave her lovely owner a hell of a buzz by winning in Perth last week and she deserves a crack at a race like this. The truth is she may just be a little in at the deep end against the likes of Elimay and Scarlet And Dove who finished first and third in Cheltenham. There are only the six runners, so you never know – you have got to be in it to win it as they say.

5.25pm (Paddy Power Champion Hurdle – Grade One)

The first of the Grade one action sees Honeysuckle (pictured below) back in action bidding to make it a glorious 16 out of 16 under rules. I’ve kind of run out of superlatives when it comes to this mare as she just keeps delivering. It would be a big shock if she doesn’t win, and she should follow up last season’s success. Gordon (Elliott) saddles Teahupoo who is better than he showed in Cheltenham. That was his first proper go in the Grade to be fair so you can forgive him that. I’d expect plenty more from him here, but whether he can shake up the mare is a totally different story.

THREE STRIPE LIFE – 6.00pm (Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle)

My other ride on the day is Three Stripe Life (pictured below) who gave me a hell of a thrill winning the Grade One in Aintree. The plan had been to kick-off his shoes and throw him into a field after that, but he came out of it so well it seemed crazy not to go for this. If he can reproduce that performance from Liverpool, he certainly won’t be far away. State Man looked very good in Cheltenham, admittedly in a handicap, whilst Flame Bearer keeps on winning.

Good Luck
Davy

---

STAR PROMOTIONS