Five days of top-class horse racing action await us at Irish Jump Racing HQ as Cheltenham Festival revenge will be on the minds of many of the top connections.
But this week also gives smaller outfits a chance to have their day in the sun on the big stage. The five-day Punchestown Festival has something for all on and off the track, but for the next five days, I will be on the hunt for more big-priced winners on the track.
Get the best Punchestown odds and promotions with the best horse racing betting sites here.
Punchestown 2:30 Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Chase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup – 3m½f (Banks) (5yo+)
The traditional Ladies Perpetual Cup gets us underway for the 2025 Punchestown Festival, giving us our first taste of the banks course this week. Knockiel Synge will look to record a famous double as he aims to bravely defend his title from the front once again. He has to be feared, but the one who may prove too strong for him again is FRALIMONTI BILBERY.
At the beginning of the month, the selection finished ten lengths ahead of Knockiel Synge at Lingstown and only found Vital Island too good for him. He was no match for I Masked Du Potier on his next start, but this lightly raced seven-year-old could have a lot more to offer.
Others that can run well are Transprint and Turnupdevolume. Keep On Dreaming would be a player where he to get a run.
- Selection: Fralimonti Bilbery
- Danger: Transprint
Bet on Fralimonti Bilbery with Betfred
Punchestown 3:05 Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final Handicap Hurdle – 2m3½f (4yo+)
In a race such as this, there are so many that you could make a case for. The UK took last season’s renewal back over the Irish Sea, and the same could happen again. Stay If U Want To won well at Kelso when last seen, and has to respected off his 7lb higher mark. Rocheval and the hat-trick-seeking Boyles Hill are other UK raiders who are respected, but the one who looks firmly on the upgrade is BLUE HOP.
His running style is tailormade for big field handicaps such as this, and he has shown that he is on top of his game with an easy win over Kilta at Wetherby at the end of March. Rachael Blackmore takes the ride today, and even with his hike in the weights, that should not stop this progressive hurdler from going close here.
Other each way interests are Bright Legend, who gets the assistance of Harry Cobden, Londonofficecallin, and if you can forgive Must Go Now for his below-par run at Fairyhouse, then he would have big claims.
- Selection: Blue Hop (e/w)
- Danger: Must Go Now (e/w)
Punchestown 3:40 Listed Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle – 2m½f (4yo+)
We’re faced with another difficult handicap hurdle to solve, and you guessed it, a case can be made for most of the field. Lark In The Mornin was well fancied for the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but was very disappointing. There is a chance that he can bounce back here, but at his current price he wouldn’t be for me today.
Ascending Lark is five from five for Harry Derham, and he has to be given the highest respect from a yard going places. He is still on a competitive mark and should be bang there at the finish. Helvic Dream was just touched off on his return to hurdling last week, and if this race doesn’t come too quick for him after that run, he has plenty of form at this level to give him a strong each-way chance.
The one who looks to have a bit more to offer and who finished ahead of Lark In The Mornin at Cheltenham is IRISH PANTHER. In the early stages of his career for Eddie O’Grady, Irish Panther showed a glimpse that he had the potential to be well above average, none more so when he finished two lengths off Fact To File and just over four lengths off Ballyburn in two bumpers. He failed to kick on over hurdles and has yet to get off the mark, but since switching to Eddie & Patrick Harty, Irish Panther is running like a horse who could be about to strike in a handicap like this, and his narrow defeat at the Dublin Racing Festival proves that. He runs off a 3lb lower mark than at Cheltenham and has it in him to run a big race.
- Selection: Irish Panther 12/1 (e/w)
- Danger: Ascending Laek 10/1 (e/w)
- Current Betting: Lark In The Mornin 9/2, Serienmond 6/1, Wilful 9/1, American Money 10/1, Ascending Lark 10/1, Irish Panther 12/1, Helvic Dream 12/1, 14/1 bar.
Bet on Irish Panther with talkSPORT BET
Punchestown 4:15 Grade 1 KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle – 2m½f (5yo+)
The first Grade 1 of the Punchestown Festival is one of the most straightforward ones to solve, as it is impossible to oppose the unbeaten KOPEK DES BORDES. The two-time Grade 1 Novice Hurdler, including the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, looks to have the world at his feet. He may be a two-time Grade 1 winner already, but the fact that he still looks green when winning means that we have yet to see anywhere near what this son of No Risk At All has to offer.
Baring accedients, this should be Grade 1 number three for Kopek Des Bordes.
- Selection: Kopek Des Bordes 4/9
- Danger: Irancy 8/1
- Current Betting: Kopek Des Bordes 4/9, Salvator Mundi 10/3, Irancy 8/1, Karbau 18/1, Whinney Hill 100/1, Fleetfoot 125/1.
Bet on Kopek Des Bordes with bet365
Punchestown 4:50 Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase – 3m1f (5yo+)
What a cracking race we have to look forward to here. The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th all line up for a crack at each other again.
Ballyburn has been installed as the favourite, but you would have massive worries backing him at his current price given his behaviour at Cheltenham. He failed to settle, jumped poorly, and could only manage a fifth-place finish. I would be against him again and see no reason not to side with the Cheltenham winner, LECKY WATSON.
He may not be the flashiest horse in training, but he knows how to get the job done and is three from three over fences. He ran well at last season’s Punchestown Festival on the back of a good run at Cheltenham, so we know he can back up his win. I see no reason why he should not be the favourite on the back of that win, and at 11/4, he looks a standout bet here. Steller Story’s jumping is gradually improving, and he can fill the runner-up spot again over the course and distance he has winning form around.
- Selection: Lecky Watson 11/4 (NB)
- Danger: Stellar Story 10/1
- Current Betting: Ballyburn 6/4, Lecky Watson 11/4, Impaire Et Passe 5/1, Stellar Story 10/1, Gorgeous Tom 12/1, 12/1 bar.
Bet on Lecky Watson with Paddy Power
Punchestown 5:25 Goffs Defender Bumper – 2m½f (4yo)
The betting market will be a crucial guide here, but the obvious one to be interested in is last year’s Arkle Sale topper LEADER DES BORDES. He made €210,000 as a store, and the fact that he is the choice for Patrick Mullins from Willie Mullins’s four runners gives you an idea of how he is doing in his work. It’s a lot of guesswork, but he looks like the obvious starting point.
Reckless was well fancied for the Thyestes day bumper at Gowran, but the heavy ground may have bogged him down. With that experience under his belt, he is one to take a chance on each way.
- Selection: Leader Des Bordes
- Danger: Reckless
Bet on Leader Des Bordes with Betfred
Punchestown 6:00 Grade 1 William Hill Champion Chase – 2m½f (5yo+)
All eyes will be fixed on the clash of the Champion Chaser, Marine Nationale and the Ryanair Chase winner, FACT TO FILE. The fact that Willie Mullins has chosen to drop Fact To File down to 2m for the first time in his career over jumps tells you all you need to know. Even though he has raced over 2m3 to 3m, Fact To File looks well equipped to have the gears to deal with the drop in trip.
In any normal year, you would find it hard to be strong on a horse that has been plying his trade over much further, but given his relentless front-running style and impeccable jumping, Fact To File should have no issue dropping back in tips here.
The inclusion of Solness could even set it up for Fact To File to have something to toe him for over a mile and then take it up, upping the pace. Marine Nationale is given the utmost respect, but as we have seen before, he finds it hard to reel in a strong stayer, and you won’t find one in here that can stay stronger than Fact To File.
- Selection: Fact To File 1/1 (NAP)
- Danger: Marine Nationale 2/1
- Current Betting: Fact To File 1/1, Marine Nationale 2/1, El Fabiolo 10/1, Solness 12/1, Captain Guinness 20/1, Senecia 66/1.
Punchestown 6:35 Willie Coonan Memorial INH Flat Race – 2m½f (4yo)
With so many unknown quantities lining up here, siding with one with experience looks the way to go, and the one with standout claims on the back of his second in a Listed bumper on debut is STARTING FIFTEEN.
That was an above-average run, as he conceded experience to the smart Light Up The Dark, who won by seven lengths on her debut. Any normal improvement can see Starting Fifteen go close here, and another with experience who should come on for her debut 2nd is Eagle Of Destiny. Also, take note of any market support for newcomers, as any significant market move has to be taken seriously.
- Selection: Starting Fifteen
- Danger: Eagle Of Destiny
Bet on Starting Fifteen with Tote
About the author
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).
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