Punchestown Festival Horse Racing Tips For Day Three, Thursday 28th April

It’s day three at the Punchestown Festival this Thursday (28th April) with another bumper 8-race card to get stuck into. The Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (5.25) is the featured contest, where trainer Willie Mullins will be looking to win the race for a second year in a row with Klasscial Dream. Andy Newton gives you his Punchestown tips on day three, plus join up with our page sponsors – Boylesports – to grab a free £20 bet to use on the day (see below).

On Wednesday, Crosshill (15/2) and The Nice Guy (15/8) were nice winners for this feature.

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Punchestown Festival Tips: Day Three, Thursday 28th April 2022

3:40 – Specialist Joinery Group Handicap Hurdle (4yo+ 88-123) 2m RTV

A tough opener again, but with three wins since 2014 a chance is taken on the Jessie Harrington runner – ONLY SKY (e/w) @ SP with Boylesports This 4 year-old is yet to finish out of the top three from three runs over hurdles and got off the mark at Cork last month. Is into a handicap for the first time too and looks to have a fari opening mark of 111 and just 10-8 to carry.

Boylesports Special Offer – Money back if your horse is 2nd to the SP Fav (max refund £20). Applies to singles and win part of e/w bets in horses races in UK/Ire with 5 or more runners in. (Ts&C’s apply)

 

4:15 – Pigsback.com Handicap Chase (Grade B) (4yo+) 2m RTE2

The Mullins-trained Mt Leinster will be popular here after two nice wins at Leopardstown and Fairyhouse, but with five entries in the race the Henry De Bromhead yard are clearly gunning for this prize.

With that in mind, the Rachael Blackmore-ridden, ZARKAREVA @ SP with Boylesports  – gets the nod. This 6 year-old seemed to not like the softer ground last time at Leopardstown, but prior to that has been running well in better conditions, which she’ll get here. She’s also a course winner here over fences and will come here fresher than most after 4 months off.

4:50 – Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase (5yo+) 4m2f RTE2

Singing Banjo won this race last year and is back for more as a 12 year-old – one for the shortlist. Course winner Shady Operator is another to respect from the Enda Bolger yard, but has a big weight of 12-7.

So, the pick here is the John McConnell runner – GO ANOTHER ONE @ SP with Boylesports   – who gets a handy 9lbs off Shady Operator and is actually the top-rated in the field anyway. He’s trying these XCountry fences for the first time but is a sold jumper that also acts well on this better ground. A 3 month break will have him fresh and ready to run a nice race.

5:25 – Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+) 2m7½f RTE2

Plenty of old faces on show here, including the former Stayers’ Hurdle winner at Cheltenham – Paisley Park – and recent Aintree scorer Sire Du Berlais. But this race has gone to a horse aged 8 or younger in 12 of the last 18 years so it’s hard to get away from last year’s winner – KLASSICAL DREAM @ 6/4 with Boylesports .

This Willie Mullins-trained 8 year-old took this by 9 lengths last year and heads here in good order after a decent fifth in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. He’s 2-from-3 here at Punchestown and is the top-rated in the field (163). He can give Willie Mullins yet another win in the race – having landed 5 of the last 10.

Boylesports Special Offer – Money back if your horse is 2nd to the SP Fav (max refund £20). Applies to singles and win part of e/w bets in horses races in UK/Ire with 5 or more runners in. (Ts&C’s apply)

 

6:00 – Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) (4yo+) 2m7½f RTE2

Another tough race to unravel – the Nicky Henderson runners – City Chief and The Bomber Liston – will be popular – the yard won this race in 2016 too. It’s also been another good race for the Willie Mullins yard – winning the last two and 4 of the last 10.

With that in mind, their MAZE RUNNER @ SP with Boylesports  is chanced. Last seen running 5th in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, but is down 6lbs for that and also has a 7lb claimer on today, so is starting to look well-handicapped.

The other of interest is the Gordon Elliott-trained SASSY YET CLASSY @ SP with Boylesports . This 8 year-old was well-fancied in the Pertemps Network Final Hurdle last time at Cheltenham, but was brought down in that race early on. She’s now 6lbs lower and also has the talented Rob James riding to claim another 7lbs. Add in that she’s a CD winner here, then it will be no shock to see her run well.

6:35 – Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) 2m RTE2

Cases can certainly be made for Blue Lord, Gabynako and Saint Sam, but the way that GENTLEMAN DE MEE @ SP with Boylesports  saw off the Cheltenham Festival Arkle winner – Edwardstone – last time at Aintree was impressive.

This Willie Mullins 6 year-old has now won 3 of his 5 runs over fences and is a horse that acts well on this better ground and still looks to be improving. He’s the top-rated at 164 in the line-up and so if running to that level is the one for the others to aim at.

7:10 – Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares’ Handicap Chase (5yo+) 2m5f RTV

Hurricane Georgie, Western Zara, Fiveaftermidnight and Minx Tiara are all interesting, but the eye is also drawn to the UK trainer – Anthony Honeyball sending over two runners – DEJA VUE @ SP with Boylesports  and LILITH @ SP with Boylesports . The yard won a race on this card 12 months ago too, so are no strangers to plotting an Irish raid.

Deja Vue was a good second at Ludlow two runs ago and likes to get on with things so we can expect her to stay out of trouble up top – plus connections have also booked a 5lb claimer to help with her weight.

Lilith might be their better hope with jockey Rex Dingle picking her and after an easy 8 length win at Newbury last month it’s easy to see why. She’s up 3lbs for that but still gets into this race with just 10-4 to carry!

7:45 – JP & M Doyle Celebrating 70 Years In Business (C & G) Flat Race (4-7yo) 2m RTV

JAMES’S GATE @ SP with Boylesports was a good winner here in February and certainly wasn’t disgraced when third to Facile Vega – beaten just 6 1/4 lengths – last time in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. That’s the best form on offer here and so this Willie Mullins runner will be hard to beat if running to that level again.

Boylesports Special Offer – Money back if your horse is 2nd to the SP Fav (max refund £20). Applies to singles and win part of e/w bets in horses races in UK/Ire with 5 or more runners in. (Ts&C’s apply)

 

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2022 Punchestown Festival Race Times and Names

Punchestown Festival Thursday 28th April 2022

• 3:40 – Specialist Joinery Group Handicap Hurdle (4yo+ 88-123) 2m RTV
• 4:15 – Pigsback.com Handicap Chase (Grade B) (4yo+) 2m RTE2
• 4:50 – Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase (5yo+) 4m2f RTE2
• 5:25 – Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+) 2m7½f RTE2
• 6:00 – Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) (4yo+) 2m7½f RTE2
• 6:35 – Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) 2m RTE2
• 7:10 – Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares’ Handicap Chase (5yo+) 2m5f RTV
• 7:45 – JP & M Doyle Celebrating 70 Years In Business (C & G) Flat Race (4-7yo) 2m RTV

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