DAVY RUSSELL: Punchestown Festival, Friday
No joy on Thursday at Punchestown but fingers crossed for a better day on Friday when the highlight is the Irish Champion Hurdle.
I have four booked rides and don’t forget to check back later on Friday for my final Punchestown Festival blog previewing Saturday’s rides.
FRIDAY
PUNCHESTOWN
DE PLOTTING SHED (4.20pm)
He’s been remarkably consistent and deserves to get his head in front but by the same token it’s disappointing that we haven’t managed to get a win already from him with a string of second places. Particularly, the last day in Fairyhouse when it looked like a penalty kick but he found outsider Screaming Colours a length too good. He’s got plenty of experience over the larger fences now but it’s also possible he’s too high in the weights and has been penalised for his placed efforts. We’ll try dropping him in behind today and see if that can work some magic. It’s a wide open race and of the others Bel Ami De Sivola caught my eye after his win of a valuable handicap chase in testing ground in Fairyhouse.
THE GAME CHANGER (5.30pm Betdaq 2% Commission Punchestown Champion Hurdle)
The odds probably tell you everything about my fella’s chances but what a belter of a race to be part of and with prize money down to sixth place I’ll be trying to grab a slice of it ! At the front end it’s a fascinating clash between the hugely progressive and exciting Samcro and Champion Hurdle runner-up Melon who has 7lb in hand if official ratings can be taken at face value. Samcro passed his big test at Cheltenham with flying colours and there’s every chance he will continue improve further to take this but Melon brings rock solid form to the table and it could well turn out to be a battle royal.
PALLASATOR (6.05pm Profile Systems Champion Novice Hurdle)
Hopefully my best chance of a winner on the day. He is progressing very nicely since making the switch to hurdles quite late but is rapidly making him for lost time. He was a Group 3 winner on the flat when trained by Sir Mark Prescott and is starting to show some class over timber too. I was delighted by his win in Grade 2 company the last day at Fairyhouse over the same two and a half mile trip as today. He needs to improve further but comes into the race a relatively fresh horse and I’m hopefully of a good run. Interesting to see Getabird declared again and if the ‘good’ Getabird turns up he could be a big danger.
ROARING BULL (7.10pm)
He’s one where the ground will be an important factor. Basically the less rain the better for my fella. Certainly the heavy ground seemed to find him out the last day at Navan. He made a winning debut in a bumper here (good to yielding) so hopefully will enjoy another spin round the track. Deal D’Estruval (Willie Mullins) and Shady Operator (Joseph O’Brien) looks two of then bigger dangers.
Best Of Luck
DAVY
YOUR SAY
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