The end is nigh as Punchestown kicks off today and the summer holidays are in sight!
We have a very busy day ahead with a whopper 14 runners on the opening day.
SHECOULDBEANYTHING ran a blinder at Cheltenham and and she takes a step back in class to Listed here to get that all important black type for her pedigree. It looks a group of hardy fillies and a few will be carrying a penalty here. It is great to have Jordan Gainford back in the saddle.
For the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle we have FOUND A FIFTY. This is an extremely small field with everyone guarantied prize money if they finish. The ground got the better of this horse in Aintree but he’s a nice type and he has Jordan in the saddle.
For the Killashee Hotel handicap hurdle we have three going to post FILS D’OUDAIRIES, GRAND ROI and GLAN. Fils has had a good season in similar events but will be shouldering top weight here and it is a very competitive field. We have a top 7lbs claimer in the saddle in the form of Danny Gilligan. Grand Roi has first time blinkers and this should hopefully come in good use here. Corey McGivern has been booked to ride and claims a valuable 7lbs. Glan has racked up a lot of miles in the past two months having travelled to Cheltenham and Aintree but the ground has gone against her both times. This is a much shorter journey and Luke Dempsey has been booked to ride.
Our next runners come in the valuable Goffs Defender bumper which we were lucky enough to win last year with Absolute Notions. BRENNUS LESCRIBAA is a lovely bred horse being by leading sire Doctor Dino. He looks like he’ll be a nice prospect with some time behind him Declan Lavery rides. NO TURN UNSTONED will prove to be a tongue twister for some with his name. He is beautifully bred for the flat and might provide a bit of class in this, Josh Williamson rides and claims 7lbs. TACTICAL AFFAIR looks a really nice horse with a bright future with a classic French pedigree and is the pick of Jamie Codd. WESTERN FOLD is another who looks like he has a bit of pace about him and should be suited to a bumper he will be ridden by Barry O’Neill. SPECULATRIX looks the one to beat as she has already showed a dominant turn against the boys and will be ridden by Harry Swan who claims 5lbs. WESEEKHERTHERE has a run under her belt which should prove very helpful and she has John Gleeson in the saddle claiming 7lbs.
Our final runners of the day will come in the Oak Lodge Landscapes bumper over an extended two miles. ANKUD hasn’t done much wrong to date in two starts but we would be hopeful that he can progress to get his head in front now with Harry Swan claiming 5lbs. RELIANCE KID looks a nice horse who should appreciate the drying ground of summer racing and Barry O’Neill has been booked to ride. Finally we have RAINBOW LILY, she looks a smart filly and she has a nice pedigree which bodes well for connections. She gets a fillies allowance here and will be ridden by Jamie Codd.
