Horse racing predictions: Punchestown

The second day of the Punchestown Festival provides the pick of Wednesday’s six race meetings across the UK and Ireland.

The Co Kildare circuit stages three Grade 1 events, headlined by the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup at 5.55pm. Our racing expert has three selections from the card, which features eight races from 3.40-7.45pm. Wednesday’s nap missed Cheltenham but may give Gordon Elliott a Grade 1 win there.

The day’s other meetings are all on the Flat, at Ascot (1.50-5.10), Pontefract (2.00-5.30), Brighton (4.25-7.50), Musselburgh (5.05-8.25) and on the all-weather at Wolverhampton (1.05-4.30).

Horse racing predictions today: Punchestown

Enda McElhinney’s Wednesday fancies are below. Scroll down to read the expert analysis behind them. 

Odds correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change.

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Horse racing predictions: Punchestown 5.20

A few of these ran in last month’s Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham, where The Nice Guy maintained his unbeaten record by scoring for Willie Mullins in a race marred by the death of Ginto. 

Paul Townend chose to ride the second, Minella Cocooner, that afternoon but now sides with The Nice Guy, who had five lengths in hand under Sean O’Keefe last time. Ramillies and Good Time Johnny were sixth and ninth respectively and have their work cut out to overhaul the front pair.

The Nice Guy looked useful in that win and is now 4-4, having won two bumpers and two hurdles races since his debut in November. He is clearly an exciting prospect. 

Minella Cocooner, meanwhile, was a Dublin Racing Festival winner in February over 2m 6½f from MINELLA CROONER – but the Gordon Elliott inmate is taken to gain some revenge now.

His best effort this season came over course and distance in January and he should really appreciate the return to three miles. A jumping error robbed him of his chance at a vital stage at Leopardstown in February but he still made some good late gains and was fancied by many to go well in the Albert Bartlett before a minor setback ruled him out. 

In what has been a spring of ‘nearlies’ for Elliott’s string, Jack Kennedy's mount can shine back here and bag this Grade 1 Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle.

Selection: Minella Crooner @ 6/1 with BoyleSports

Horse racing predictions: Punchestown 5.55

This is a renewal to relish as a high-class field of nine go in search of the £164,999 top prize in the Punchestown Gold Cup over three miles. 

They are headed by last year’s winner Clan Des Obeaux, who once more arrives here having skipped Cheltenham and won the Aintree Bowl. That contest fell apart to a degree and Conflated gave Paul Nicholls’ runner a tiny scare late on. Nicholls’ team are flying as we saw on Saturday at Sandown but the home side won’t want this prize exported in successive years and are taken to hold sway now.

Willie Mullins has four in the race – Al Boum Photo, Kemboy, Janidil and Allaho. The first is a dual Gold Cup winner at Cheltenham but is 0-2 in this race, including last year, while Kemboy has failed to sparkle in two runs since famously sending Ruby Walsh into retirement with his 2019 win here.

Allaho is the favourite but there is a major stamina query over the dual Ryanair Chase winner, who seems something of a specialist at that intermediate trip of 2m 4½f. 

He was also defeated over course and distance in a Grade 1 novice hurdle by MINELLA INDO in 2019 and Henry De Bromhead’s charge could be the value bet here. 

Second to stablemate A Plus Tard last month in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, Robbie Power felt he perhaps went for home too soon but, in truth, it’s unlikely delaying would have thwarted the magnificent winner. Minella Indo was the best of the rest and, in a first-time tongue-tie, can make his first start over fences at this course a winning one.

Selection: Minella Indo @ 5/1 with BoyleSports

Horse racing predictions: Punchestown 4.15

The Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final has attracted a solid field of 14, with Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott saddling three between them. Hat-trick-seeking Glengouly is an obvious sort for the champion trainer but one who may go well at a decent price is AMBITIOUS FELLOW, one of two runners in the race for Peter Fahey, who is based in nearby Monasterevin. 

A son of Fame And Glory, Ambitious Fellow has only four career starts behind him, winning a bumper at Fairyhouse in October on good ground on the third of those appearances. 

Heavy ground was not his friend on the hurdles bow over 2m ½f at Clonmel in November and he probably did well to finish fourth in the circumstances. This longer trip of 2m 4f should suit him and he has scope for better on the forecast ground. He has to improve here but he’s got a good pilot in Sam Ewing and forecast odds of 25/1 are fair. 

Selection: Ambitious Fellow @ SP with BoyleSports

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