Day four of the Punchestown Festival and Cue Card was the latest big name to blow out; the King George winner is obviously better than he showed on Wednesday when his long season finally caught up with him.
The feature event is the Champion Hurdle and it is a fascinating contest with Vroum Vroum Mag (5.30) representing Willie Mullins rather than the injured pair Faugheen and Annie Power the latter an 11th hour absentee.
The selection (15/8 at BetVictor) receives 7lbs from the boys including My Tent Or Yours (13/8 fav) who has chased home Annie Power at both Cheltenham and Aintree although on the latter occasion he looked a non-stayer over the 2m4f trip in the Aintree Hurdle.
The return to the minimum trip will suit but this will be his third run in 6 weeks and he had a tough race at Aintree earlier in the month. Rain is forecast for Thursday and Friday and I think the mare, rested since a facile winner of the Mares’ event at Cheltenham, can take the prize; yes, she has to improve again stepping up in class but she is held in high regard by the yard and she is a more than capable deputy for her more-illustrious stablemates.
The Champion Novice Hurdle is a fascinating contest with 4-year-old Jer’s Girl (6.05) getting the vote as well as 18lbs from her elders; the filly impressed me when an easy winner of a listed contest at Aintree back in December and the form of her head second to runaway Aintree winner Apple’s Jade is top class and she looks a fair price at 11/4 with BetVictor.
Disko returns from a near six-month break for Noel Meade and looks the best of the older horses despite the fact that Giginstown jockey Bryan Cooper sides with A Toi Phil from the Mullins yard.
On The Fringe looked better than ever when scoring at Aintree last time and having won at Cheltenham/Aintree and Punchestown last season he is on the verge of an unprecedented double/treble.
Those looking for an each way alternative should consider Paint The Clouds (7.45) who is 3lbs better off with the favourite for less than two lengths he was beaten at Cheltenham; he bypassed Aintree and as long as the ground doesn’t deteriorate too much he must go close.
At Bangor Newsworthy (7.50) is taken to break his maiden over timber having finished runner up to a subsequent winner at Doncaster back in February; this time last year the son of Presenting was running in the Champion Bumper at Punchestown and he can get his career back on track this evening.
At Chepstow connections of the well-bred Girling (2.50) will be keen to get a one next to her name for breeding purposes and she can land the 10f maiden for the in-form Ralph Beckett yard; the selection finished a good second in a 7f soft ground maiden on debut, is bred to get at least this 10f trip and it will be disappointing if he can’t go close.
At Fontwell Quadriller (5.25) has an excellent record fresh and can add to his C&D success from last August from a 5lbs lower mark; at the time of writing jockey Richard Johnson is yet to get off the mark in defence of his jockey’s title although he did have a couple of rides at Sedgefield last night.
Hobbs’ Banyu will be all the rage in the Handicap Hurdle but Perth’s sharp 2m was perfect for this front-runner and I’m not convinced he will be as effective over this near 2m 2f trip; if the ground is genuinely good then I think Maestro Royal (7.00) can build on his latest run over C&D when he hinted that he was coming back to his best.
For all your racing needs check out BetVictor.com
