Barry Geraghty's Day One tips as Tuesday action headed by the William Hill Champion Chase
THERE is nothing like the Punchestown Festival, which is always a great week.
It’s the biggest Jumps meeting of the year in Ireland and it always delivers top-class racing — I’m sure this year will be no different.
The feature race on the opening day is the William Hill Champion Chase and I was lucky enough to ride some great two-milers to victory.
I won the race three times on Moscow Flyer, Big Zeb and Sprinter Sacre — ENERGUMENE (5.25) might not be in their class, but his Cheltenham win suggests he’s much the best at the moment.
He’s likely to go off a short price, but he might not be quite the certainty the betting suggests.
A peak Blue Lord is a solid horse on his day and Gentleman De Mee comes here fresh, so Energumene will need to be on his A-game to win this.
I’d be inclined to take on Facile Vega in the Champion Novice Hurdle in what looks a race that will be very interesting tactically.
DIVERGE (4.15) doesn’t have an awful lot to make up from their run in the Supreme and a small field might not suit Facile Vega as he is a horse that needs cover to settle.
He got plenty of cover at Cheltenham, but won’t get that here and that might open the door for something like Diverge to cause a surprise.
The Champion Novice Chase is the last of the three Grade 1 contests and it looks like a cracking renewal.
Journey With Me looks the right favourite given he comes here a fresh horse.
It was a good performance at Naas, but I prefer the chances of the classy SIR GERHARD (6.35).
I fancied him to go close in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham, so it was disappointing to see him run poorly.
He was much better at Fairyhouse the last day though, and if he can reproduce that form, I make him the one to beat.
The Mares Novice Hurdle kicks off the card and I’m hoping SHECOULDBEANYTHING (3.40) can get the meeting off to a flyer.
She ran a cracker at Cheltenham and a repeat performance would likely be good enough to win this.
The handicaps are always tricky to solve, but I thought BRAZIL (4.50) had plenty going for him.
He won last year’s Boodles and is only 5lb higher here, so is weighted to run a big race.
