Punchestown Day Three Tips: Selections For Stayers' Hurdle Day

The halfway point of the Punchestown Festival is of course the Thursday, with the highlight on the day being the Punchestown Stayers' Hurdle. There are a host of competitive races surrounding the feature and after a fast start with two out of three winners on Tuesday, Billy Grimshaw is back with his Thursday selections...

14:30 Punchestown - Specialist Group Novice Hurdle

I'm willing to take on the top of the market here, with Leader D'Allier blowing his chance last time out and then missing Cheltenham following a setback and Gameball's form taking a knock on day one at Punchestown. The former did look smart when winning at this track in back in January but that was on much softer ground than he'll encounter in this race and given his difficult performance for Paul Townend to handle at Fairyhouse came on yielding, he is an easy favourite to dismiss at a Festival synonymous with beaten favourites. I am surprised they've not reached for headgear, truth be told, which indicates he is getting one more chance without before being put in a hood next season, perhaps over fences.

This may not be the strongest novice race we'll see here this week but there are some intriguing contenders and at a big price I am willing to chance the perceived Closutton second string NADIA'S BOY. He has not tasted a race as hot as this, however his win by over five lengths last time out at Listowel was achieved in good style and the horse in second has danced plenty of dances in that company, proving his level. There looked to be much more up his sleeve should he have needed it and with Sean O'Keeffe taking over from Paul Townend I imagine he will track what could be a strong pace before looking to strike on this first attempt at the intermediate trip.

Nicky Henderson doesn't send many to Punchestown but when he does they are usually above average and Ionian could be very interesting at 20/1 if he gets to the front early doors. I am not sure he will be able to go wire-to-wire with classy sorts ahead of him in the market but his third place at Warwick when last seen has been boosted a few times since and he is one I could see going off a lot shorter. Hopefully, though, he sets things up beautifully for Nadia's Boy to swoop late.

15:05 Punchestown - Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle

I must admit to being perplexed at the pricing in this race, albeit Paul Townend choosing Future Prospect has probably made her a few points shorter. She was pulled up in the Mares' Novices' at Cheltenham and jumped woefully, then was easily brushed aside at Fairyhouse last time out. She should be double her current odds in my book and as such that makes the mare just ahead of her in the betting DIAMOND DU BERLAIS a knocking bet to win this second race of the day/

It's no use pretending I wouldn't have preferred Paul onboard over Patrick Mullins, but we are getting a better price because of the jockey bookings and she can be marked up for her Cheltenham sixth. Patrick did ride a winner here on Tuesday, too. She was given far too much to do in a big field from the rear, at a meeting where the frontrunners were having a field day, and she used up all her gas getting into contention before weakening late. Now in a smaller field and with plenty of experience from her French days, she looks the standout bet in this race.

Mullins has Blue Velvet to train half the field too, but she has disappointed me hugely over hurdles and is on the naughty list. Ted Walsh's Adrienne is the sole four year old in the field and gets weight as a result, which makes her interesting. She has been running with credit in juvenile company but to win this she would need to take a marked step up or hope one or both the leaders fluff their lines.

Diamond Du Berlais comes here with the best form and is a great price, particularly with less potential to get into a compromised position compared to Cheltenham with the hectic starts and big field.

16:50 Punchestown - Frontline Security Handicap Chase

This is undoubtedly the most competitive race of the day that I am tipping in, so caution is advised with your stakes, but I was surprised to see BIRDIE OR BUST available to back at 20/1 in places each-way for this contest. The odds compilers must be taking her run last time out literally, but that was off the back of a nigh on six month break and although she was disappointing in ninth she looked notably gassy to me, which indicates Henry De Bromhead was using that Fairyhouse contest as a prep. Hopefully it was a prep for this!

Harry Cobden is booked to ride and will be itching to impress new boss JP considering he gave favourite Kharisma a poor ride on Day One. Regular readers will know there is no jockey I like backing more than Cobden over fences, and although Ireland and the pressure of this job is all new to him I don't doubt he will show his class eventually. There are dangers aplenty, none more so than the JP first string - at least on the odds grids - McLaurey who was very well fancied at Cheltenham but flattened out a touch after travelling well behind Madara in the Plate.

He has a tonguestrap on for the first time which could be a shrewd move getting him to settle better by Emmett Mullins, but Come Walk With Me is probably the chief threat and the right favourite. His win was impressive last time out in a Fairyhouse novice and while he now has plenty more pounds to lumber around, he looks unexposed and one who could progress past handicaps in time. Nevertheless, Birdie Or Bust is the standout bet at the prices and will hopefully bounce back to her best with her prep run behind her.