Punchestown Day 2 Tips: @RoadCheltenham's Wednesday Festival Selections

It’s Gold Cup Day at Punchestown and all eyes will be on Galopin Des Champs in the feature race of the day as he looks to win the race for the first time. I’ve picked out my top three fancies for Day 2 at the 2025 Punchestown Festival – best of luck to all...

16:15 Punchestown

Already a two-time Cheltenham Festival winner, Jasmin De Vaux is a very talented animal and he clearly has a huge engine. He travelled like the best horse in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle and quickly put the race to bed with consummate ease.

His jumping has improved as the season’s gone on and he can confirm his status as the leading staying novice hurdler. Honesty Policy brings Aintree Grade 1 form to the table and the step up to three miles is likely to suit so he may be the main danger to the selection.

Paul Townend will partner the Tirwanako gelding once again and he’s the one to beat on all known form. If everything goes to plan, he will add a third Grade 1 to his record and connections will have a decision to make with regards to novice chasing.

16:50 Punchestown

Copacabana had a lofty reputation following his success at Naas but things didn’t really go his way at last month’s Cheltenham Festival. He was outpaced at the business end of the race and Patrick Mullins may try to make more use of his mount this time.

The second and third behind Copacabana at Naas have won next time out and I’m going to give Ed Ware’s runner a chance to reverse Champion Bumper form with Bambino Fever – though I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned about the quickening conditions.

While he finished 10th of 17 runners at Cheltenham, he was just 10 lengths adrift of the winner and I’m hoping that a better trip round and a more prominent ride should see him to best effect. He’s too big at his current price, that’s for sure.

18:05 Punchestown

Winner of this race 12 months ago, Lets Go Champ returns off an 8lbs higher mark but I would imagine he’s been trained with this race in mind and the drying ground will only enhance his claims as he looks to back up last year’s success.

He ran reasonably well for a long way in the Galway Plate and Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham’s November meeting and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him in contention at the business end of the race and hopefully he can win off an Irish mark of 139.

With several bookmakers offering four places, he’s an appealing each way bet at current prices and he can go close for the Henry de Bromhead yard. He performs best when given a prominent ride and Rachael Blackmore has a decent record at Punchestown.