STAR PREVIEW Fri: Punchestown Festival | Day Four

Yesterday’s preview proved to be profitable, thanks to a fine ride from the retiring Robbie Power on Magic Daze, who got into a proper rhythm in the Pigsback.com Handicap Chase. Power will leave the saddle after partnering Teahupoo in today’s Champion Hurdle, bringing one of the more successful careers of the modern era to a close. His achievements are hugely impressive, and when he gets a roaring send off from the jockeys and the crowd today, it shall be well deserved. His injuries – like so many jockeys – are a reminder of the fact that this sport wouldn’t be possible without the bravery and dedication of so many riders, and from these quarters there are only happy wishes for his retirement.

The 2022 Punchestown Festival, Day 4 + Newmarket Guineas Festival, Day 1
First Race: 3.40pm
Last Race: 7.45pm
All races live on Racing TV HD

The equine star of the day is Honeysuckle, who looks untouchable amongst the current 2-mile hurdlers and is priced accordingly in the Champion Hurdle (5.25). She has beaten each of her rivals today at some point and that ought to be the case again, with plenty prizemoney up for grabs for whoever takes the runner up spot.

The Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (6.00) is much more competitive, with County hurdle winner State Man stepping up in grade and trip here to take on Three Stripe Life, a comprehensive winner of the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle after finishing runner up in a trio of Grade 1 contests, Supreme Novices’ Hurdle third Kilcruit and dual Grade 2 winner Flame Bearer.

The regard in which State Man is held is very clear – as is his obvious potential for improvement – but at evens he looks a watching brief taking on well-established performers today and we should learn a lot about him, albeit without a betting interest from this end.

The most appealing betting proposition of the day at Punchestown is Birchdale in the EMS Copies Novice Handicap Chase (4.15). This is one of the most competitive races of the entire week, but Birchdale appears overpriced given his fine sixth in the Paddy Power Chase and his win in an equally competitive contest at the Dublin Racing Festival.

He went up 8lbs for that, a fair rise given the competitive nature of the race, and Shane Fitzgerald’s 5lbs claim will be a major help to his chances. The presence of Blue Sari at the top of the weights also means he has a fine racing weight of 11-1 here and if he can show the same form he has at Leopardstown around here there’s no reason he shouldn’t be seriously involved.

There shouldn’t be much between Elimay and Scarlet and Dove in the Mares Chase (4.50) and the race doesn’t make appeal as a betting contest, for all it should be an entertaining watch.

The Champion Hunters Chase (6.35) has been priced as a match between Vaucelet and Cheltenham winner Billaway. It’s hard to choose between the pair and it would appear unwise to completely discount Dorking Cork, who handled soft ground much better than third-placed Vaucelet when winning at Down Royal’s Christmas meeting. Speaking of hunters, the Stanley Asphalt Hunters Chase for the Bishopscourt Cup (3.40) looks a match between the top pair of An Droichead Gorm and Alpha Male.

The SalesSense International Novice Hurdle (7.10) is a very strong contest where El Fabiolo will be very popular after his close second to Jonbon at Aintree, although Bring On The Night was considered good enough to go for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and could have improved plenty for that experience. The pair may be closer here than the betting suggests and Ha D’or can’t be discounted either after solid runs in graded company the last twice, so perhaps this is one to watch.

As ever, bumpers this week have been good to the Willie and Patrick Mullins team, and Don Chalant can give them another flat success in the closing bumper (7.45). Don Chalant’s two bumper runs this season set an imposing standard and many of his rivals haven’t matched that amount of promise in their starts this season.

Whilst we end the season with top quality jumping, the flat is beginning to get rolling and Newmarket’s Guineas meeting starts today. The star of the day is Yibir, who is a long odds on shot for the Jockey Club Stakes after an excellent second in the Sheema Classic and should be too good for his rivals.

WILLIAM KEDJANYI

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RECOMMENDED BETS

BACK Birchdale 1 pt each/way in 4.15 Punchestown at 9/1 (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

BACK Don Chalant 1 pt win in 7.45 Punchestown at 15/8 with (Latest Star Price ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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