2024 Punchestown & Haydock Saturday Tips – DS
2024 Punchestown & Haydock Saturday Preview
What a day of racing we have ahead of us after some modest fare last week. Grade 1 action on both sides of the Irish Sea and some high quality handicaps to get stuck into too. Dave Stevos is going to do his best to try and find a couple of big priced places, get his free 2024 Punchestown & Haydock Saturday preview below.
1.00 Punchestown – Florida Pearl Novice Chase (Grade 2)
I don’t want to sound too bullish, but I think Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown might win this one.
2024 Punchestown & Haydock Saturday Tip: No Bet
1.15 Haydock – Betfair Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
The one that has caught my eye in this competitive and open race is Lavida Adiva. Trained by Ruth Jefferson, who has a 23% strike rate at Haydock, this daughter of Champs Elysees is a half brother to an old friend of the blog, the former Galway Blazers winner, Born By The Sea. Now, he is a horse that likes nice ground but Lavida Adiva has run some excellent races on soft.
Yes, it was good ground when she ran so well at Cheltenham April off 112. Prior to that, she had done most of her racing on soft and it was soft (and raining heavily) when she won her maiden at Catterick.
Given that her half-brother has won at 2m6f and 3m and stayed on for sixth in a Grand National, you’d imagine this 5yo is going to be seen to best effect over longer distances in a year or two. However, this could turn into a stamina test on the ground and if it does, hopefully Lavida Adiva can sneak into the first four at odds of 25/1.
2024 Punchestown & Haydock Saturday Tip: Lavida Adiva e/w @ 25/1 (4 places) nb
2.10 Punchestown – Morgiana Hurdle (Grade 1)
On this testing ground, it is hard to look past the favourite in the annual Willie Mullins Benefit Hurdle. He has won twelve of the last thirteen renewals of this race and State Man will more than likely complete a hat-trick of victories and cement his place as the top two mile hurdler in town right now. He turns up to every dance and his form figures tell their own story.
A word of warning though. Back in 2019 Klassical Dream came into this as a 2/5 favourite and lo and behold, he finished third of five with his stablemate Saldier, ridden by Danny Mullins, winning at 7/1. He was the outsider of the Mullins’ trio so, with that in mind, and also because of this ground, I am going to throw a couple of quid on Sir Gerhard.
Does he like testing ground? Yes, and he actually remains undefeated on ground with heavy in the description. Has he run well at Punchestown before? Yes, his last win came here over 19f on soft to heavy and that’s the only time he’s had that ground here. He won at this trip at Cork in March (a poor race admittedly), he has won when fresh before and in the hope that one or two of the others falter, Sir Gerhard is the e/w selection at 33/1.
2024 Punchestown & Haydock Saturday Tip: Sir Gerhard e/w @ 33/1
2.30 Haydock – Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (Premier)
This could turn into a proper slog. The one that appeals most at a price is the Irish raider, Jody Ted. Rated 134 over the bigger obstacles, he gets in off 130 here and his jockey takes off a very handy 3lb. The son of Dylan Thomas lacks a run, but he won first time up last year so Eoin Griffin is clearly capable of having him ready after a break.
When last seen, Jody Ted was sent off the 9/2 favourite for the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown’s Xmas meeting, when he unfortunately unseated at the eighth fence. On his previous start he won a 24.5f Pertemps Hurdle Qualifier at Punchestown off 115, but he didn’t run in the final in March.
He’s won twice on testing ground, he’s rated 4lb higher than this over fences and he’s relatively unexposed over hurdles. If he is fit, hopefully Jody Ted can outrun his odds of 20/1.
2024 Punchestown & Haydock Saturday Tip: Jody Ted e/w @ 20/1
2.50 Punchestown – Albert Bartlett Series Qualifier Handicap Hurdle (0-123)
I was going to sidestep this race but odds of 25/1 about Thegraveyardbookie are too tempting to turn down. Lightly raced, this son of Valirann ran out an impressive winner of a heavy ground maiden hurdle over this trip at his trainer’s local track last December, despite putting in a couple of questionable early jumps.
His two subsequent runs last season didn’t go to plan, including on his handicap debut off 115 at Cork in March when he was pulled up. He was given a break after that run and an outing at Listowel at the end of September should have blown away any cobwebs. If he can rediscover the form he showed when winning his maiden he could be dangerous off a mark of 112. So, at 25/1, back Thegraveyardbookie each way.
2024 Punchestown & Haydock Saturday Tip: Thegraveyardbookie e/w @ 25/1 (5 places)
3.05 Haydock – Betfair Chase (Grade 1)
So who will the rain softened ground suit best here? The favourite Gey Dawning won’t mind it and the fact that the Skeltons have aimed him at the race, rather than the 2022 winner Protektorat, probably speaks volumes.
Royal Pagaille won’t mind the conditions either. He’s a horse I absolutely loved when he was at his peak in 2020 but I just don’t think he’s quite as good as he was. Ahoy Senor won’t relish the ground but he’ll handle it. Whether he’ll be good enough is another question.
There has been money around for Limerick Lace, who loves to get her toe in. Gavin Cromwell doesn’t usually tilt at windmills when it comes to having runners in big Grade 1s in England but this mare does have a bit to prove on her overall form.
Charlie Hall Winner
After a poor campaign last year plenty had written The Real Whacker off but Patrick Neville has done a great job to get him back and he looked better than ever when winning the Charlie Hall at Wetherby earlier this month. However, after that race Neville emphasised how important the ground was to him and that day, it was good. He has failed to complete his last three starts on soft.
Hewick is also better on nice ground, so that leaves the French raider Gold Tweet. He is fit, he likes heavy ground but he has come up short in Grade 3s in France on his last two starts and he was beaten 18l in a Grade 1 at Auteuil in May. Bravemansgame doesn’t look the horse he once was and wears blinkers for the first time at age of nine.
None of the outsiders really appeal and I think the Skeltons will probably land the prize with Grey Dawning. He’s too short for the blog though so this is a race to just watch. No bet.
2024 Punchestown & Haydock Saturday Tip: No bet
3.40 Haydock – Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Class 2)
The one I like in this staying handicap chase is the Sue Smith and Joel Parkinson trained 7yo, Prairie Wolf. A three time winner over fences, he has finished well beaten in both starts this season at Wetherby but those runs came on good and good to soft ground.
Now, he has won on that type of ground once before but his best efforts have come when there has been proper cut in the ground. His last two starts on soft saw him win novice handicaps at Catterick off 123 and here off 130, both at around 19f/20f.
In the latter race he made all and won by 5.5l but he kept his backers on the edge of their seats by making a couple of pretty bad jumping errors. He’s only 4lb higher now, he’s never finished out of the first three in five starts on soft/heavy and he looks worth a go at this sort of trip. Sue Smith has an outstanding record at this track, hopefully Prairie Wolf can put in a clear round and enhance it at odds of 16/1.
