Equinties - Punchestown day 3

Gm Equinauts

Punchestown day 3 today. Many found yesterday hard, not us, but if you backed the hot pot’s who were easily turned over - why not try the TOTE Fantasy to maintain an interest in the racing without the financial risk?

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Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

MOORE TRAINERS

Earlier in the week, it was announced that AJ O’Neill would join his dad Jonjo on the training license for the news jumps season, and they have already sent out their first runner at Punchestown.

However, a few days later, we now know this isn’t the only joint-license for the coming season as Josh Moore is set to join his dad Gary.

And he may not be the only one as Jamie Moore could be joining the license.

Josh Moore said: "Jamie will be quite involved as well and hopefully he can join me on the licence soon. I think he's happy, he was only sad to stop riding when he did because he still felt quite able and I felt he was still riding well.

"Jamie and I have been very heavily involved in the day-to-day work of the yard for many years now. Between the three of us we balance everything out quite well."

BIG RACE PREVIEWS

17.25 GRADE 1 NOVICE CHASE

Just four runners have been declared for the two-mile Grade 1 novice chase, partly due to the scary ability of GAELIC WARRIOR at the head of affairs. He won the Arkle on his last start and both IL ETAIT TEMPS and FOUND A FIFTY have franked the form since. He could be a serious animal in open grade next season, so this should be his.

Speaking of IL ETAIT TEMPS, he’s next best in the market and for good reason based off his Aintree win.

He beat the best of the Turners that day and has form over two miles both in the hurdles and Chase sphere. He might not have the ability of GAELIC WARRIOR, but he’s there for any slip ups.

Completing the Willie Mullins trio of horses is HERCULE DU SEUIL who is having his second start of the calendar year. He was a fair fourth on his last start behind FOUND A FIFTY and has been saved for a campaign on better ground, so that’s what he’ll get here, though he will probably lack the class of his stablemates.

Finally, MOUNT FRISCO - rated 118 - completes the field. His rating says enough, he’s just here for prize money.

Verdict: Unless God tackles him himself, GAELIC WARRIOR should be one for the perms. Speculative players will be on the distance bets.

18.00 GRADE 1 STAYERS HURDLE

KLASSICAL DREAM hasn’t been seen for a while (we hope he’s okay) which is sad to see as he normally gets laid out for this race, he’s won it the last 3 times.

TEAHUPOO finally got his day in the sun at Cheltenham this year. We say day in the sun, really we mean he won in the mud. Todays conditions are the total opposite. The sun has been shining (through the clouds) over Punchestown all week and the ground is now pretty much good (HEWICK in the Gold Cup being the barometer here). Could this quicker ground stop mud lover TEAHUPOO from making it three Grade 1’s in a row? Maybe… he didn’t do very well in this race last year in the same conditions!

Old boy SIRE DU BERLAIS turns up at the ripe old age of 12! This season is perhaps telling that age is catching up with him. That said, he has been kpt fresh for this. Every time he races, we’re getting closer to his retirement and should it be today, whatever happens he can go out with his head held high. What a horse he has been for JP.

HOME BY THE LEE keeps getting beat by the same horses. Shouldn’t be winning today.

ASTERION FORLONGE was very close to winning this last year when running out of track behind KLASSICAL DREAM. Despite his mixed form on all grounds, on pedigree he should be better on this ground today. He could quite easily give the magician Mullins his 5th win in the last 6 years.

BUDDY ONE should be followed next year, one for fences. What aout today? Well, he’ll like todays ground but place chances at best.

We didn’t expect to see LANTRY LADY in this line up. We tipped her for the mares at Cheltenham and is a fascinating contender today -this’ll only be her fourth race… ever! She’s so unexposed it’s hard to know why she’s here. Mare allowance makes this even harder, as we give her a right chance of running well but he’s just so inexperienced!

The rest will struggle to get involved, even the legend FISHPOND (MONKFISH).

Verdict: ASTERION FORLONGE on the ground can win this. He’ll be taken wide and prominent to give him a good look of the obstacles, he’ll then lead and hopefully not get caught! 9/1.

19.05 LISTED MARES NOVICE HURDLE

Unlike the Grade 1 two-mile novice Chase, this has plenty of runners… 16 to be exact and STILL a Mullins horse is odds on.

How boring. Let’s see if her can take her on.

But first, about the fave SPINDLEBERRY. Her second to JADE DE GRUGY in a Grade 1 lto sets the standard. She has a nice profile and could well be a Graded horse and she has no penalty, so there’s plenty to like. This will the fastest she’d have had to race though - today’s step down in trip in quicker ground could find the chink in her armour.

GOT GLORY comes from a Flat pedigree as her half-sister, SESTILO JET, is a Group 3 winner, so the good ground could be up her street. She’s had just three races, two of them wins and one pulled-up effort, so she is very unexposed in recognisable silks.

One of the British raiders is CASA NO MENTO for the Twiston Davies’. Nige openly purrs over this girl and he hasn’t hidden the fact she is a flying machine at home (the good thing is she does is on the track too!). She has a lovely improving profile and the ground is perfect for her today.

IMPLICIT has won her last two races for Willie Mullins, the first of which was against her shorter-priced ENOLA which is interesting, though she has something to prove on better ground.

ONLY BY NIGHT was sent over to the UK by Gavin Cromwell, which has been a good sign for horses being decent in the Cromwell yard. She was beaten when she went to Lingfield, but you can understand why she went as she bolted up at Naas. One can imagine we haven’t got to the bottom of her yet.

Although JADE DE GRUGY won the Grade 1 at Fairyhouse lto, her owner-mate THEATRE NATIVE also ran but couldn’t complete. It’s understandable why she ran in the race as she bolted up at the track and she is a half to Nicky Henderson’s THEATRE GLORY, so she could still have improvement to come on this better ground (THEATRE GLORY is very ground dependant). Player.

At the much bigger prices, MAYOR’S WALK was going well at the course in December before making a big mistake. She was still going well at the time and could hit the frame.

Verdict: We’ll take the hotpot on with two selections here - one for the British in CASA NO MENTO and one for the classic pairing Rachael and de Bromhead with THEATRE NATIVE.

RISK ON

One good easy winner in ARCH LEGEND yesterday who drifted to even money and (most of the) money back on PUROSANGUE placing.

We think we have found more leverage today with IRON LION even money in the 18.50.

15.52 HOPEFUL

Lovely big mare who has had her issues, so much so she was nearly retired. Back now with yard ambitions to get black type. She bounced lto and should be ready to improve today. Ground very much in her favour. Single 3/1.

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