THE characteristic race at Punchestown at the moment is the Mares’ Champion Hurdle and it’s not likely a betting race. I see this as extra of a coronation of Wodhooh as champion on this division.
She’s solely ever been crushed as soon as over hurdles, she has chalked up 10 wins from 11 runs and the one time she has been crushed is when she went down preventing in opposition to Lossiemouth — a winner final night time — at Aintree final yr.
Wodhooh was good however removed from spectacular in beating Jade De Grugy at Cheltenham however I feel the way in which the race was run didn’t precisely go well with her. This smaller subject ought to make Jack Kennedy’s job an terrible lot simpler and, in flip, ought to safe him the title of champion jockey. Darragh O’Keeffe has bought shut however Wodhooh within the 4.15 will put Jack over the road.
Wodhooh has solely ever been crushed as soon as over hurdles
Willie Mullins saddles a mammoth 9 of the 13 declared runners for the Champion 4-12 months-Previous Hurdle, at the moment’s different Grade One occasion at 4.55.
And I’m really going to go in opposition to him with the winner of the Fred Winter Hurdle at Cheltenham, Saratoga, who’s skilled by Padraig Roche for JP McManus.
He was very spectacular at Cheltenham in successful that handicap and given a ranking of 140 since then he’s been raised 10 kilos by the handicapper, which places him on par with Proactif and simply behind Apolon De Charnie (146), the Triumph Hurdle winner.
He’s the selection of Mark Walsh, who stays loyal in opposition to Proactif, who he would have had the selection to journey. Saratoga has bought expertise from earlier on within the season and he additionally has the Flat class that he confirmed when he received for Ballydoyle final yr. I feel the Fred Winter winner goes to beat the Triumph winner and fend off the Mullins battalion.
Within the DAR Golf Handicap Chase (3.05) over simply shy of 4 miles, I fancy the probabilities of Higher Instances Forward, who ran with no enthusiasm in any respect within the Irish Grand Nationwide at Fairyhouse again at Easter, however I’m keen to place a line by means of that as a result of it’s such an uncommon check of a horse.
I don’t assume you possibly can take it too actually and, with that in thoughts, I’m going to revert to his Thyestes type, the place he was simply crushed a head by Now Is The Hour.
The going is a query mark, he most likely has his greatest type on tender or heavy, however being a son of Stroll In The Park, I feel this floor needs to be okay for him. A mark of 136 is certainly very workable, he’s bought confirmed stamina and I feel for Robert Tyner and Mark Walsh, if he can put his Irish Grand Nationwide type behind him, he’s going to run an enormous race at an enormous worth.
JANE’S BEST BETS
NAP OF THE DAY:
Saratoga
Ballymore Champion 4YO Hurdle, 4.55
EACH WAY:
Higher Instances Forward
DAR Golf Handicap Chase, 3.05
At 3.45 it’s the Palmerstown Home Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase. I’m going to go for a British contender, in Montregard, who we haven’t seen since he received at Ascot again in February. He subsequently bought a six-pound rise for that win however I feel his type stacks up with this race in thoughts.
He’s bought successful type on good floor, he’s been confirmed over this journey and, nonetheless solely a seven-year-old, I feel he might be nicely handled as is typical of the British handicap chasers once they come over to Punchestown.
Bar the one blip at Kempton over Christmas, this man could be very constant and I feel he’s the one for me.
The opposite race I’ll supply some recommendation for is the 5.30, the Lawlor’s of Naas Handicap Hurdle. It’s very laborious to get away from Bounce Allen right here, given how unfortunate in operating he seemed to be within the Martin Pipe Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Anna McGuinness discovered herself a little bit bit additional again than would have been preferrred and met loads of visitors in operating earlier than ending up a really strong-finishing third behind Air of Entitlement.
A lot of these horses are reopposing from the identical race however with Paul Townend now booked, Bounce Allen off a two-pound greater mark, is thrown in right here.
Sport offers us the escape we want from destructive information
THERE is a lot negativity on the earth in the intervening time when it comes to information and the intense nature of what’s being mentioned if you flip in your TV or radio so this has been an actual refreshing week right here at Punchestown.
Whether or not you’re into GAA, soccer, racing or no matter your chosen pursuit, it’s fantastic to have sport to assist us escape the realities of the world for a short time, with no one worrying concerning the worth of vitality or the gas disaster or any of the actually heavy matters which are completely so necessary – typically we simply want a break, and we bought that this week.
Sure, the climate has been sort however we should give Punchestown due credit score, they’ve bought it good right here when it comes to what it’s to be a competition.
There’s a effective line between having sufficient individuals heading in the right direction to create an environment and too many for consolation however they’ve nailed the steadiness right here this week.
On monitor, whereas Jack Kennedy can be topped champion jockey at the moment, Paul Townend is king of the world.
I don’t assume any jockey has ever received each the Cheltenham and Punchestown Gold Cups, each Cheltenham and Punchestown Champion Chases, each Cheltenham and Punchestown Champion Hurdles and the Aintree Grand Nationwide in the identical season – it’s fairly exceptional.
It’s akin to the Grand Slam in tennis – successful the Australian, French and US Opens and Wimbledon multi functional yr.
The very best horses are in coaching in Eire so that you get to see them right here, and whereas it’s been fantastic to have British competitors, the very best chasers and hurdlers are right here, you possibly can see them at Leopardstown in February and Punchestown in Could.
We bought some superb outcomes all week, particularly Bob Olinger retiring on an enormous win. There’s been a pleasant number of key protagonists as nicely – Gordon Elliott had a treble of Grade One winners, Harry Derham has had one, Barry Connell too, so there was a pleasant unfold.
As a broadcaster it’s a lot simpler to promote tales which have various characters in them in order that’s been an enormous assist to us. And hopefully we end off on a excessive at the moment.
