Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece I look at the best of the action at the Punchestown Festival.

All eyes on the track will be on day three of the Punchestown Festival. There are two Grade 1’s on an eight race card. The first of them is the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (5:25) and the second one is the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (6:35).  There are four handicaps on today’s card. That makes the day more interesting from a betting perspective than the previous two days for me.

The big racing news story this side of the Irish Sea is likely to be off the track as the British government’s gambling review white paper is expected to be published this morning. This is a start of a long road though. It will give us some idea as to the governments thoughts, but it will be months before we have any clarity as to where the sport stands regarding important issues such as affordability checks.

Punchestown Festival – Day 3

Those who joined my Victor Value Service in time for Punchestown Festival were rewarded by an early priced 12/1 winner as Ballybawn Belter won the opening handicap hurdle on Wednesday.

If you want my big race previews and selections, you can get them here.  There’s going to be plenty of them in the coming 30 days as I get stuck into Newmarket’s Guineas Festival, Chester’s May Meeting and York’s Dante Meeting.

There could be anywhere between 10mm & 20mm at Punchestown on Thursday which complicates things from a betting perspective. I’m working on the assumption that the rain does arrive. However, as ever it’s by no means guaranteed to show up so you must be ready to have back up selections if you’re having bets at Punchestown on Thursday afternoon.

As with the previous two days today’s preview looks at the two Grade 1’s on the card. The first one looks far and away the more interesting of the two.

Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (5:25)

Sire du Berlais won the Stayers Hurdle and followed up in the Grade 1 at Aintree 12 days ago. It’s a quick turnround for the 11-year-old. However of more concern would be if the race was tactical which it could turn out to be.

Teahupoo a ¾-length third of 11 in Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham is likely to be a warm order here. Especially if the forecast rain arrives to ease the ground further. Klassical Dream was on a going day when winning this race last year. However, he boiled over at Cheltenham last time. Not sure what to expect from the 9-year-old but he’s 3 from 3 in April and his Punchestown form figures are 1311.

Ashdale Bob pulled up in the Stayers Hurdle but was only 1 ¼ lengths behind Klassical Dream last year and can’t be ruled out.

Asterion Forlonge beat Monkfish by ½ length in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse 17-days ago. The winner is better going right handed and has definite claims if he stays 3m. Monkish was returning from mammoth 713-day absence last time and he could bounce. The return to 3m is a big plus for his chance though.

Queens Brook was a 5 ¾ length 3^rd of 9 to Honeysuckle in a slowly run Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham. That was a career best on RPR’s from the mare and the step up to 3m is well worth a try. She gets the 7lb mares allowance to and her Punchestown form figures are 211.

Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (6:35)

El Fabiolo is going to be hot favourite after his win the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival. Barring a serious mistake, he surely wins this. Stablemate Dysart Dynamo had jumped well in the Arkle but he he’s a free going sort. He did too much out in front at Cheltenham and was a tired horse when falling at the last. Punchestown is more speed favouring track and his rivals can’t afford to let him get away out in front.

El Fabiolo has the class, but Dysart Dynamo is the more solid jumper of the pair despite his fall last time.

Punchestown Selection:

If the rain arrives it’s a major plus for Teahupoo in the Champions Stayers Hurdle (5:25). However, I’m still leaning towards last year’s winner Klassical Dream and stablemate Monkfish.

With a clear round El Fabiolo wins the Grade 1 Novice Chase (6:35). However, he can’t afford to make the mistakes that he made at Cheltenham around here.

5:25 – Dysart Dynamo – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.

Good luck with your Thursday bets.

John