Hi all,

In today's main feature, I'll be covering Day 1 of the Punchestown Festival.

On the eve of the Punchestown Festival, it’s with a heavy heart that I begin Tuesday's column on a sombre note.

Tragic Losses: Elixir De Nutz and Shishkin Remembered

The weekend brought sorrowful news of equine fatalities, casting a sombre shadow over the racing community. On Saturday, we mourned the loss of Elixir De Nutz, after a fall at Sandown.

With experience in observing jump racing, one develops an instinctive sense for falls that appear life-threatening, and Elixir De Nutz's tired fall two out in the Celebration Chase was a troubling sight. Although initial reports offered a glimmer of hope that the horse had walked into the horse ambulance but there wasn’t to be a positive outcome.

It was a sad end for the 10-year-old, who had showcased his prowess by claiming victory in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase in January. It feels like just yesterday when I backed him for success in the Haldon Gold Cup last November.

Condolences to his connections.

Rest in Peace, Elixir De Nutz.

The melancholy continued on Sunday with the heartbreaking announcement from Nicky Henderson that Shishkin had succumbed to a fractured hind leg after being cast in his box. This devastating news arrived mere days before his anticipated appearance in the Punchestown Gold Cup. Despite his occasional quirks, Shishkin was a high-class competitor, showcasing his talent with victories in prestigious races such as the Supreme, Arkle, Clarence House, Ascot Chase, and Aintree Bowl.  Fond memories of the 10-year-old will endure among those fortunate enough to witness his racing brilliance.

The season has been a trying one for Nicky Henderson, moments of triumph at Sandown on Saturday followed by profound loss just a day later. It serves as a poignant reminder that you can lose a horse in box, or out in the field just as much as on the racecourse. 

Our heartfelt condolences go out to all who cherished Shishkin at Henderson's yard, as well as to his countless fans.

Rest in Peace, Shishkin.

Punchestown Festival  

Punchestown's racing festival suffers from excessive padding for me, diminishing its overall quality. While unlikely, condensing it to a three-day event would vastly improve the quality.

Today's card features eight races, with standout events including three Grade 1 races and two large-field handicap hurdles. However, the quality of the remaining three races doesn't meet the expectations of a top-class racing festival. The Grade 1 contests, despite attracting small fields, offer intriguing matchups. While I'll be watching them all closely, I'm not inclined to place too many bets on them.

It’s fair to say that Willie Mullins has dominated the Punchestown Festival in recent years.

It’s not just non-handicaps that Mullins wins, he also lands more than his fair share of the handicap races at the meeting.

Interestingly Jessica Harrington hasn’t had a handicap winner at the meeting since 2021.

Don’t Ignore the British Challengers

Are you considering backing British contenders at the Punchestown Festival?

Since 2017, British entrants have had 22 winners. All those 22 winners were returned 16/1 or less.

The British challengers have delivered commendable results, generating profits to both the industry and Betfair Starting Price (BFSP). Importantly for punters, these qualifiers have outperformed market expectations, offering value betting opportunities.

However, it's noteworthy that British-trained runners priced at 18/1 or higher have yet to secure a victory, with 0 winners from 57 runners, with just four managing to place.

Punchestown Festival – Day 1

As of Sunday, the going for Day 1 was described as yielding, but there's a possibility of up to 15mm of rain before the start of the meeting.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle one-two Slade Steel and Mystical Power are set to clash once more in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle (3.40). Mystical Power went in at Aintree last time and if the ground continues to dry out he can reverse placings with Slade Steel. Firefox who was third in the Supreme and runner-up to Mystical Power at Aintree, is also among the nine declared runners. As is C&D winner Tullyhill a disappointing favourite in the Supreme.

Champion Chase winner Captain Guinness takes Mares’ Chase runner-up Dinoblue in the Champion Chase winner Captain Guinness takes eight rivals in the Grade 1 William Hill Champion Chase (5.25). They include Mares’ Chase runner-up and C&D winner Dinoblue and stablemate Gentleman De Mee who was runner-up in the Champion Chase. Better ground is a positive for the latter as it is for Banbridge who also gets the addition of the first time cheekpieces for the drop back to 2m ½ f. 

Eight were declared for the Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (6:00). They include Brown Advisory runner-up Monty’s Star, National Hunt Chase runner-up Embassy Gardens, recent easy Ayr novice handicap chase winner Sharjah and recent Grade 1 winning novice chaser Spillane's Tower. The latter is interesting stepped up to 3m for the first time.

I'll primarily focus my bets on the handicaps at the Punchestown Festival. If you're interested, I can share my selections with you here.

Tuesday Selection:

If the rain holds off, Mystical Power looks poised for victory in the 3:40. That provided he's over his Aintree run which I think he will be. Similarly, Banbridge holds promise in the 5:25, especially with the drying spring ground, which also favours Gentleman De Mee in the same race. Given the uncertainty of the ground conditions, Monty's Star stands out as my pick for the Champion Novice Chase (6:00). However, Henry De Bromhead does seem to have his horses seemingly ready to peak at the Cheltenham Festival rather than Punchestown which is a slight concern.

Punchestown

6:00 – Monty’s Star.

In tomorrow's column, I'll be shifting gears from my usual look ahead to the weekend's big race action. Instead, I'll be focusing on Day 2 of the Punchestown Festival and Royal Ascot Trials Day at Ascot.

Good luck with your Tuesday bets.

John