Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on what looks a good Wednesday of racing.
Punchestown Festival – Day 2
It was a warm night, and I've woken up to blue skies and glorious sunshine. It feels like summer which means flat racing. Yet it’s day two of the Punchestown Festival.
Galopin Des Champs returns as he bids for a first Punchestown Gold Cup (5:30) success. Sadly, he faces just three rivals, which is a disappointing turnout for such a valuable race.
Galopin Des Champs has been beaten by Fastorslow in the last two renewals. However, this looks a great opportunity to make it third time lucky. His nearest market rival is Spillane's Tower, who hasn’t been seen since a disappointing run in the King George. A winner of a Grade 1 novice chase here 12 months ago. He’s better than he was able to show at Kempton and provided there’s ease in the ground can run well. King George winner Banbridge disappointed in the Gold Cup but should do better if the ground continues to dry out.
Besides the Gold Cup, there are two other Grade 1s on the Punchestown card. Albert Bartlett winner Jasmin De Vaux heads the betting as he bids to follow up in the 3m Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle (4:15). He faces a very serious rival in Honesty Policy. The latter looked good when winning a Grade 1 at Aintree and should be fine with the step up to 3m.
Champion Bumper winner Bambino Fever will be a warm order to follow up in the Punchestown Champion Bumper (4:50), However, the value might lie with Switch From Diesel. A winner of her last two starts since finishing second to Bambino Fever at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Ascot Trials Day Highlights
There’s also competitive action on Royal Ascot Trials Day at Ascot. Just four go in the Group 3 Longines Sagaro Stakes (2:15). Coltrane, winner for the past two seasons, bids for the hat-trick. Divine Comedy was a short head runner-up in the Listed Further Flight Stakes (1m 6f) at Nottingham on seasonal return, The return to 2m is a big plus and she does have race fitness on her side.
Big Evs, a length fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar, returns from wind surgery in the Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial (2:50). Ryan Moore has been booked for early bird favourite Electrolyte who made all to win a Chantilly Group 3 on his final juvenile start. Rebel’s Gamble so impressive when winning a Listed race (7f) at Lingfield last month is intriguing runner on turf debut for a yard that’s won this race twice since 2020.
Elsewhere, Unquestionable, a smart juvenile when trained by Aidan O’Brien, makes his debut for Richard Hannon with Ryan Moore booked in the Listed Paradise Stakes (1:40). He faces ten rivals including Docklands, a straight-mile Ascot specialist who was beaten just a neck in last year’s renewal.
Good luck with your Wednesday bets.
John
At the prices I like the look of Unquestionable instead of Docklands with only 1 point separating them on OR. Ryan Moore booking is s big plus too. 4p with Skybet is well worth a punt.