WE’RE all set for an ideal Punchestown Pageant this week to shut the Nationwide Hunt season, the climate seems to be good and the racing needs to be even higher.
The Champion Chase is the characteristic race of day one and there are many horses right here who’re going to underperform at this week’s competition due to the altering floor and the truth that they’ve had an extended yr.
Nevertheless, neither of these components will apply to Marine Nationale, who has solely had two runs this season and truly appreciates fast floor. I noticed him at Barry Connell’s yard final week and he seems to be implausible.
He’s going for back-to-back wins on this race after lacking Cheltenham. Cheek-pieces are utilized as we speak, which is just a little little bit of a query mark for me, however whereas Majborough beat him earlier within the yr, I believe on higher floor Marine Nationale can take him.
Marine Nationale goes for back-to-back wins on this race
Il Etait Temps was good at Cheltenham however he was good within the absence of Marine and an underperforming Majborough, so I’m considering Barry Connell would possibly simply beat Willie Mullins – he’s the one man with the prospect to try this as Willie fields 4 of the 5 runners on this one.
At 4.50 it’s the Dooley Insurance coverage Champion Novice Chase for three-milers, the second of two Grade One races as we speak.
If you happen to ask your self which of those is most definitely to be a contender for a Gold Cup subsequent yr, it is most definitely Kitzbuhel, who was so good at Cheltenham, the place he landed the Brown Advisory Novice Chase.
He’ll be higher going right-handed contemplating he jumps to his proper, he is tactically versatile and he is a horse that has stamina in abundance.
So I believe this race is made for Kitzbuhel and he can cap what has been a fairly implausible yr with a 3rd win on the highest degree.
The opposite Grade One is the PRL Champion Novice Hurdle over two miles at 4.15.
JANE’S BEST BETS
Nap of the day:
MARINE NATIONALE
William Hill Champion Chase (6.05)
Finest each-way:
MATT CONNOR
Albert Bartlett Collection Closing Handicap Hurdle (3.05)
El Cairos is again after a disappointing defeat in Cheltenham and I’m going to take him on with a horse that was additionally disappointing at that Pageant, known as Sober from the Willie Mullins yard.
Dropping again to 2 miles can solely improve Sober’s possibilities as a result of he was an easy winner at Royal Ascot final June. He was a great winner at Punchestown in January and I simply don’t issues fell accurately for him at Cheltenham.
He’s eager and this smaller area will assist him as we speak. Paul Townend rides him which is at all times a plus. I believe he’s received the velocity to beat the Nationwide Hunt horses if that’s the way in which it transpires, and I simply really feel like he’s loads higher than what we noticed at Cheltenham. So for me it’s Sober to out-speed the Nationwide Hunt horses over the minimal journey.
The puzzle will get loads trickier outdoors of these Graded races. The three.40 is the Killashee Lodge Handicap Hurdle over two miles and I like Jet To Monte Carlo.
Over the identical journey he was superb at Fairyhouse at Easter; he’s received a nine-pound greater mark consequently which implies he has to step up in grade however he nonetheless has a light-weight weight and Conor Stone-Walsh rides at 10 stone.
I believe he’s attention-grabbing for Emmett Mullins and his proprietor Paul Byrne, who teamed up collectively to win the Irish Grand Nationwide.
This man remains to be on the enhance, it was a facile win at Fairyhouse and I believe there’s extra to come back from him.
The primary race is a cross-country race, the Kildare Hunt Membership Chase for the Girls Cup, and I believe Fountain Home may be very onerous to oppose right here.
He’s on a profitable sequence after profitable his final three point-to-points, he was second on this race earlier than, he’s received cheekpieces on for the primary time and is in in opposition to horse which might be fully off form.
I believe Fountain Home relishes the monitor and journey and he’s within the type of his life.
The second race is the Albert Bartlett Collection Closing Handicap Hurdle and I’ll facet with Matt Connor right here, at a giant worth.
He’s a son of Teofilo out of a Dubawi mare and the rationale I say that, is as a result of he’s a horse who was bred for the flat and gained’t thoughts the faster floor. Whether it is an emphasis on tempo then Matt Connor can have it.
He gained at Gowran Park earlier this month on the flat, however earlier than that gained over hurdles at Naas. He’s now 11 kilos greater within the handicap however with these two current successes, he’s clearly on an upward trajectory, and doubtless has extra to come back.
I believe the perfect recommendation for the 2 bumpers is to take a watching transient as most of them are having their first runs and we’ve little or no to go on, however hopefully we’ve received the week off to a profitable begin elsewhere on the cardboard.
