DAVY RUSSELL: Punchestown Thursday

Cracking finish to the Gold Cup on Wednesday and it was hard to call coming to the last between Clan Des Obeaux and Al Boum Photo – the pair pulling well clear. It was Clan Des Obeaux that jumped the last better and Paul Nicholls’ runner stayed on in grand style to get one back for the UK !

Elsewhere, Willie Mullins continued his domination of the meeting picking up the other two Grade 1’s on the card with Galopin Des Champs who was very impressive in the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle and Kilcruit who turned Cheltenham form around with Sir Gerhard in the bumper.

And now to day three. There’s been a little bit of rain about so, if anything, it might just be riding a little easier ……

WEDNESDAY

PUNCHESTOWN

4.50pm La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase

Always a great spectacle of a race around the Bank course and it’s a bigger field than for the last few years. It usually pays to stick with the ‘professionals’ in the cross country races, that’s horses that have experience and show a liking for the quirky fences and extreme distances. I thought Some Neck (pictured below, grey, red cap) ran well in Cheltenham behind Tiger Roll and should appreciate the longer trip here. He had a taste of these fences in the Risk Of Thunder in November and was doing his best work at the end when third to Neverushacon over three miles. He gets his trip today.

5.25pm Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle

I have to stick with Flooring Porter in the first Grade 1 of the day and think it will need something to come from leftfield to beat him. I thought he was really good the last day in Cheltenham when winning the Stayers’ Hurdle and hopefully he’ll be in similar form for his first trip to Punchestown. If you take him out of the race it’s actually very competitive and one at a big price which I think could run well is Klassical Dream. He’s back after a long break but is top notch on his day as he showed in 2019 when winning three Grade 1’s in a row including the Supreme at Cheltenham (pictured below) and Champion Novice Hurdle here! Willie (Mullins) has been very patient with him and he could run well fresh.

6.00pm Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle

Very competitive 25 runner, three mile event but I think our fella Dallas Des Pictons might be able to take a piece of it. He stayed on nicely in Cheltenham to finish fifth in the Martin Pipe and should appreciate the extra half mile.

6.35pm Ryanair Novice Chase

It’s really hard to find any flaws with Energumene (pictured below), although it was disappointing that he missed Cheltenham and his intended clash with Shishkin in the Arkle down to a minor injury. He looks set to extend his unbeaten record over fences and stablemate Janidil might give him most to do after his good win the last day in Fairyhouse.

7.05pm Close Brothers Mares Novice Hurdle

The stable run Bigbadandbeautiful who is a lovely mare that we think a lot of. She made a winning start over hurdles in Fairyhouse and we think her jumping has improved since then. This is a big step-up so we’ll know much more about what level she is at.

7.35pm Grant Thornton (C & G) INH Flat Race

Definitely worth watching the closing bumper. Grand Jury sets the standard after Henry’s (De Bromhead) runner won well here the last day but I was really taken by Dysart Dynamo’s debut win in Clonmel. He won by eight and half lengths but gave the impression he will improve bundles for the run.

Good Luck
Davy

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