2023 Punchestown Festival Friday Preview – DS
2023 Punchestown Festival Friday Preview
Punchestown can do one at this stage. Another shocker on Day 3. Snapius had to come 15 horses wide to challenge and unsurprisingly weakened after the second last. Espion Du Chenet drifted but ran a super race, just missing out on a place in 4th in the last 20 yards. Meet And Greet ran no sort of race and the run probably came too soon for both him and Gatsby Grey. Back to the drawing board we go. Just two for Day 4, no NAP or NB, keep stakes to a minimum. It’s been enough of a money pit already. 2023 Punchestown Festival Friday selections are below.
4.15 – EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase (Grade A)
This could be another one for Willie Mullins, but perhaps not for Paul Townend. I’ve been watching Adamantly Chosen all season ever since watching him beat Visionarian by nearly 4l here back in October. We managed to get a nice place with him in at the Dublin Racing Festival at 40s but I think Mullins has been targeting this race.
Two poor G1 efforts at Cheltenham and Fairyhouse saw his mark drop to 148 from 153 and with trip, track and ground all ideal, he could be hard to beat, even with top weight. If you fancy him at 10/1, I wouldn’t put you off.
Course Form
We have backed a few Oliver McKiernan horses this week so why change the habit of a lifetime here. It isn’t just out of blind loyalty that Aaron’s Day is the pick here, the 9yo son of Doyen simply almost always runs well whenever he comes to Punchestown. On his last visit, for example, back in November he ran a lovely race behind Marvel De Cerisy in a 19.5f novice chase (yld/sft).
That wasn’t the first time he ran well around here. In a handicap hurdle on New Year’s Eve in 2021 he finished 4th of 14 off 127. At the 2022 Punchestown Festival he finished 4th of 24 off 121, again over hurdles. This horse is a better chaser than hurdler, as he showed when hacking up at Naas off 123 back in January.
That earned him a hike of 8lbs and since then, he has had two runs in Grade company and a spin round at Fairyhouse over an inadequate 16f trip. The handicapper has given him a pound back so he pitches up here off 130. If he can repeat the form he showed in that course novice behind Marvel De Cerisy, Aaron’s Day could sneak into the places at 33/1.
2023 Punchestown Festival Friday Tip: Aaron’s Day e/w @ 33/1 (4 places)
4.50 – Irish EBF Glencarraig Mares Chase (Grade 2)
Just seven runners and a race I’m more than happy to swerve. Hopefully Impervious repels the Mullins challenge and wins for Colm Murphy. No Bet.
2023 Punchestown Festival Friday Tip: No Bet
5.25 – Paddy Power Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
Another disappointingly small field for the day’s feature. With no Constitution Hill in the race it looks like State Man’s to lose. He finished 9L behind Nicky Henderson’s aeroplane at Cheltenham but he was 4L ahead of Zanahiyr and 6L ahead of Vauban so if that form stands up, he wins.
Our old pal Colonel Mustard pitches up here after two excellent efforts in Scotland. He last ran just six days ago but it was only his fourth outing of the season so he should be fine. I am a huge fan of this horse and he got to within 3L of State Man in the County in 2022 when in receipt of 4lbs.
I think that on his day, Colonel Mustard is easily a 150+ horse. On that Cheltenham form, he hasn’t a huge amount to find with the likes of Vauban (on his two Leopardstown runs behind State Man), Sharjah (beat 9.25L by State Man in December), Pied Piper (beat 6.5L by State Man in February) and Zanahiyr (beat 4L and 8L by State Man the last twice).
Lorna Fowler’s stable star has form figures of 142 at Punchestown, including a 2nd in a G1 Novice at 40s at the 2021 Festival. On his first run back here since, a small e/w interest on Colonel Mustard is advised at odds of 66/1. He might be worth considering in the betting w/o State Man markets too.
2023 Punchestown Festival Friday Tip: Colonel Mustard e/w @ 66/1
6.00 – Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
Another dire turnout with just six runners and another 1-2 looks likely for Mullins. Impaire Et Passe’s win at Cheltenham was franked big style by Gaelic Warrior this week and The Model Kingdom also boosted the form of his previous win by running well.
Champ Kiely was 7L back in 3rd at Cheltenham and he looks the most likely runner up. The trip has to be a worry for the headstrong High Definition and of the outsiders, Amir Kabir was an eyecatcher last time and he could outrun his odds. The top two look well clear though so we’ll leave this race alone. No bet.
