#Punchestown Festival

Barra could be the value in a really competitive Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Glencarraig Lady Francis Flood Mares' Handicap chase on Day Four of the Punchestown Festival today. Gordon Elliott's mare was a progressive handicap hurdler last season. She finished second in the Paddy Mullins mares' handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival at…

Al Boum Photo: new Punchestown Gold Cup favourite following defection of Minella Indo Your guide to Wednesday's Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (5.55), the feature race on day two at the Punchestown festival. The field was on Monday reduced to six following the withdrawal of hot favourite Minella Indo.

By Andrew Asquith, Friday 06 January 2023 Posted in: Cheltenham Festival Tips Andrew Asquith looks ahead to the 2023 Champion Chase and picks out his best ante-post bet. The entries for the 2023 Champion Chase were made earlier this week and one of the most notable absentees was 2021 Sporting Life Arkle winner Shishkin, who was pulled up when…

Gordon Elliott smashed the bookies with a massive priced four timer - Party Central (9/4), Mighty Potter (20/1), Felix Desjy (11/1) and Absolute Notions (25/1) all going in on the opening day for the Cullentra trainer. Energumene was one of the few Cheltenham Festival winners to stand up the form when he fended off Chacun Pour Soi in the Champion…

Thursday marks the third day of the Punchestown Festival and there's another stellar offering, with two Grade 1 races and some extremely competitive handicaps on the card. The Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at 5.25pm is the feature event on an eight-race card (3.40-7.35) and our tipster has selections for every race at the Co Kildare…

Clan Des Obeaux will face eight rivals as he goes for back-to-back victories in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup, the highlight on day two of the Festival meeting. Paul Nicholls' charge kept on strongly to outgun Al Boum Photo in the hands of Sam Twiston-Davies 12 months ago, but it is Harry Cobden who rides the 10-year-old time around. Having…

Dual Ryanair Chase winner Allaho is one of 27 horses entered for the 2023 Ryanair Chase, which will be run on day three of the Cheltenham Festival on March 16, and the aforementioned Willie Mullins-trained raider will be a hot favourite for the 2m 5f contest. We take a look at the entries here and have all the latest odds for what should be a…

The high-class James Du Berlais made no mistake as 1/4 favourite on his debut over fences and first run for 612 days in the McInerney Beginners' Chase. Willie Mullins' charge has always held a lofty reputation since arriving as an experienced hurdler from France, so much so he made his belated first start for the yard in the 2021 Unibet Champion…

Mares' Hurdle champion Marie's Rock faces a considerable challenge on the first stop towards her Cheltenham Festival defence, but trainer Nicky Henderson hopes the mares' allowance will give her the advantage. The eight-year-old is against geldings in open company for the first time and also lacks the match fitness of all eight rivals, with this…

Jet Powered, second in the ante-post lists for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle in March, continues his education at Newbury on Saturday. Nicky Henderson is keen not to ask too many questions too early of the Joe Donnelly-owned five-year-old, who was a very impressive 11-length winner on his hurdling debut at Newbury in November. He faces 10…

There are thousands of races in Britain and Ireland each year but it is not always the ones you might expect that prove most popular when it comes to watching the action back. This year's top five most-watched replays on racingpost.com include jump and Flat races, with everything from the Derby to the Irish Arkle covered. With the season's leading…

National Hunt's traditional curtain-raiser to a new year will take place on Sunday as Cheltenham racecourse will host their New Year's Day card, and our man Steve Chambers has taken at the action from Prestbury Park and looks to kick off 2023 with some winning tips... Classy hurdler MONMIRAL was handed an almighty test on chasing debut when he…

Minella Indo and A Plus Tard, last year's first and second, top 30 entries for the Cheltenham Gold Cup - the highlight of the Festival meeting in March. Trained by Henry de Bromhead, the duo were separated by just a length and a quarter in 2021, but it is A Plus Tard who is the ante-post favourite at this stage after winning the Betfair Chase…

I Am Maximus: narrowly denied on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse this month It was in this race 12 months ago that we witnessed the best chasing debut of the modern era according to Racing Post Ratings. Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs dazzled on his introduction to fences last Christmas when bolting up by 22 lengths - posting an…

The outstanding performer in the bumper sphere last season with wins at the Dublin Racing Festival, the Cheltenham Festival and the Punchestown Festival, the five-year-old made a smooth transition to the jumping game at Fairyhouse earlier in the month. Returning to Grade One level, the son of Walk In The Park and six-time Cheltenham Festival…

Blue Lord emerged as a potential threat to Queen Mother Champion Chase-winning stablemate Energumene following an impressive success in the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown. The seven-year-old was in the top rank of novice chasers last season for Willie Mullins, with Grade One wins at Leopardstown and Punchestown sandwiching a third place…

The sextet includes a brace of Grade One prizes with Blue Lord capturing the Paddy Power Rewards Club Chase and Facile Vega maintaining his unbeaten record in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle. Winter Fog made a winning start for the yard when coming clear in the Paddy Power'Je Suis Une Baguette' Handicap Hurdle while the Closutton…

Consistency had been a notable trait in A Plus Tard's star-studded career before bombing out in the Betfair Chase, and Henry de Bromhead is optimistic the scintillating Cheltenham Gold Cup winner is back to himself. Cheveley Park Stud's dual Cheltenham Festival winner had never finished out of the first three in his 19 starts before pulling up at…

Willie Mullins hailed a sensational six-timer at Leopardstown on Tuesday - with a 102-1 multiple that included a pair of Grade 1 wins - as one of the best days of his training career. Victory in the concluding bumper at Limerick with 11-8 favourite Largy Hill made it an across-the-card seven-timer on the day - a feat that matched his previous best…

Day two of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival takes centre stage in Ireland on Tuesday and there's £10000 up for grabs in the Paddy's Pick 5 competition, which is free to enter. Below, we have shared our selections for the five races. Best of luck! DYSART DYNAMO was a smart novice hurdler last season and was still travelling well when falling…

Style stakes and charity race back on the cards at Punchestown 2022 The Punchestown Festival returns with a bang from Tuesday 26th to Saturday 30th April and the wait will be well worth it as the thrill of racing will combine seamlessly with fashion and style. With Covid restrictions in place last year, the return of crowds and atmosphere will make…

Delta Work has become a little bit of a forgotten horse. True, he was well beaten in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase on his seasonal debut, but he is never at his best on his seasonal return, and he reportedly came home lame that day, so you can allow him that. Gordon Elliott's horse was one of the top staying novice chasers last season. He beat Le…

You would be forgiven for thinking we are set for a Willie Mullins match between Energumene and Chacun Pour Soi in Tuesday's feature Champion Chase (5.25) but the market suggests Envoi Allen should not be discounted at a double-figure price. The Cheveley Park-owned eight-year-old has reverted to two miles on his last couple of starts, winning a…

Ireland has a long history with betting with many people in the country loving to have a bet. Various sports have been popular to bet on in Ireland over the years. While relatively new inventions like esports have their fans, plenty of people prefer more traditional sports. Here are the five most popular sports among people browsing betting sites…

Martin Brassil says there are not enough options in the Irish calendar for relatively inexperienced chasers. Cheltenham Festival and Aintree Grand National-winning trainer Martin Brassil has lamented a lack of options that has compelled him to take on the formidable Galopin Des Champs with his Coral Cup runner-up Fastorslow in Monday's Grade 1 John…

Somersby spearheads trainer Mick Channon's attempts to win a first grade one race over fences when facing nine rivals in the Grade One Boylesport.com Champion Chase. The two-mile contest is one of three grade-one races on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival. With Sprinter Sacre sidelined, Somersby has posted claims to be the second best…

As a son of six-time Cheltenham Festival heroine Quevega, the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old carried all before him in the bumper sphere last season - winning each of his four starts including big-race triumphs at the Dublin Racing Festival, the Cheltenham Festival and the Punchestown Festival. He was unsurprisingly a very short price to make…

Facile Vega maintained his unbeaten record with a foot-perfect display on his eagerly-anticipated hurdling debut at Fairyhouse. As a son of six-time Cheltenham Festival heroine Quevega, the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old carried all before him in the bumper sphere last season - winning each of his four starts including big-race triumphs at…

Facile Vega maintained his unbeaten record with a foot-perfect display on his eagerly-anticipated hurdling debut at Fairyhouse. As a son of six-time Cheltenham Festival heroine Quevega, the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old carried all before him in the bumper sphere last season - winning each of his four starts including big-race triumphs at…

11:35 I Am Maximus 12:07 Whiskey Lullaby 12:42 Cayd Boy 13:17 Kansas City Star 13:52 Facile Vega 15:02 Explosive Boy 15:35 Nick Rockett *All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change. I Am Maximus makes his debut for Willie Mullins in a Beginners' Chase since…

The BHA's new measure states: "From 1 October 2022, novice and juvenile horses will be required to run a minimum of four times (up from three) prior to competing in a Class 1 or Class 2 handicap hurdle race. "Increasing the minimum number of runs from three to four gives the handicappers more information on which to base their assessment, with the…

WILLIE MULLINS has had his fair share of Cheltenham triumph....and heartache. But the Irish maestro reckons he's more excited than ever before about one of his current crop of stable stars. Facile Vega is unbeaten after four starts with his latest success coming back in April in the Punchestown festival. That followed his win in the Weatherbys…

SATURDAY of the Paddy Power meeting is always a massive day with the Paddy Power Gold Cup the highlight. I only managed to win it once, but that was on Cyfor Malta in 2002, four years after he'd won it for the first time under AP McCoy. Only five horses have won it twice and he is one of them. He was a classy horse and even though I'm not sure…

Join our channel to stay up to date on the latest in marketing Racing TV's Road to Cheltenham presenter Lydia Hislop has been covering the Festival for many years. On that weekly show throughout most of the core jumps season, there are plenty of betting tips on offer. Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets Use bonus…

The Bar One Racing Troytown Handicap Chase (14:20) at Navan on Sunday is available as a free Race Pass, which means logged-in customers can view all our premium comments and ratings. The Bar One Racing Troytown Handicap Chase (14:20) is always one of the most competitive handicaps in the Irish National Hunt racing calendar and this year looks no…

KLASSICAL DREAM can triumph in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.30pm), the feature on the third day of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival. Willie Mullins' eight-year-old could easily bring up a Grade One treble for the Irish trainer in what could be a spectacular afternoon for the County Carlow handler. Klassical Dream has had his problems…

TEMPLEGATE takes on Saturday's big race confident of finding the winner. Read on for his runner-by-runner guide and find his big pick below. MISTER FISHER 2 FISHER off hook. Was pulled up in this two years ago before bouncing back to win the Peterborough Chase here over two miles. He's been up and down since then thanks to his iffy jumping and was…

Klassical Dream made light of a long absence as he ran out a hugely impressive winner of the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown. ready winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in 2019, when he also followed up at this meeting, his career hit the buffers last season. Sent off an odds-on favourite in two Grade One outings, he was beaten in…

Following on from a fantastic afternoon at Haydock and Ascot on Saturday, ITV viewers have seven more live races to enjoy on Sunday. The bulk of the action comes from Punchestown, where the Morgiana Hurdle headlines the action. We'll also head to Exeter for a trio of decent handicaps. Clearly, this is not the highest-quality renewal of the Florida…

This race has provided the launchpad to Champion Hurdle-winning campaigns for Brave Inca and Hurricane Fly. State Man - according to the market - is the likeliest candidate to follow the same path from this year's Morgiana Hurdle. Just five go to post for Ireland's opening Grade 1 hurdle of the season, but it still presents an opportunity for us to…

Minella Crooner: makes his chasing debut at Punchestown on Sunday Weather watching was the overarching theme of Saturday's high-profile action at Ascot, and more of the same is likely when it comes to the participation of exciting novice Thedevilscoachman in this Grade 2. Noel Meade has indicated last season's Boyne Hurdle winner is unlikely to run…

11:45 - Brahma Bull 13:30 - Devilscoachman 14:05 - State Man 14:40 - Seabank Bistro 15:15 - Shewearsitwell 15:50 - Lecky Watson *All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change. Brahma Bull has completed in his last three starts and takes his chance over the'banks'…

Willie Mullins' charge was one of the leading lights in the bumper ranks in the 2020-21 season, chasing home Sir Gerhard at Cheltenham before landing Grade One glory at the Punchestown Festival, but he proved disappointing over hurdles last term, winning only once in five starts. Switched to fences, the 1/5 favourite delighted jockey Paul Townend…

Racing journalist Gavin Beech looks ahead to the most anticipated battles at the 2022 Punchestown Festival. Five runners go to post for Tuesday's Grade 1 William Hill Champion Chase but barring accidents, the opening day feature should turn into a shoot-out between the best two-mile chasers in Willie Mullins' stable. Chacun Pour Soi has yet to…

It's not news, but it's still worthwhile noting the Willie Mullins Punchestown thing, because the degree to which the champion trainer dominates the Punchestown Festival these days is unprecedented. Think Dermot Weld in his pomp at Galway, think Martin Pipe at Cheltenham's November meeting and multiply it by something large enough. Willie Mullins…