Who To Follow At Punchestown On Day Four - 29/04/22

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Thu 28 Apr 2022 12.23

Punchestown 15:50

Elimay

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

N/A

Age: 8

Weight: 11-5

OR: 152

Days: 42

The first big race of the afternoon is the Grade Two Mares Chase over 2m5f and Elimay is the one to beat in this if running to the form of her Cheltenham festival win.

The Willie Mullins trained grey has been a very consistent horse over the years and overall holds some of the best past form in the race.

Finishing second in last year's Grade Two Mares' Chase at the Cheltenham festival behind stablemate Colreevy, with the mare going on to frank the form after that beating Monkfish and Envoi Allen, it stacked up as credible form.

Elimay this term needed her first two runs to warm up, running no race at Aintree when third of four runners at Fairyhouse when second behind Mount Ida.

She bounced back to form next time out over two miles in the Listed Opera Hat Mares Chase at Naas and she looked back to her best.

Primed for revenge in the Grade Two Mares' Chase at Cheltenham, she stayed on best of the pack to get up late and land the spoils.

Going up a further furlong in this event will be no issue and having beat the second favourite last time out she is the one to be on.

Form: 13211View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
17/03/23	CHL	20.5	Sft	11-5	5
11/02/23	NAA	16	Y	11-5	4
17/11/22	CLO	20.5	Sft/Hy	11-5	4
29/04/22	PUN	21	Gd/Y	11-5	2
18/03/22	CHL	20.5	GS	11-2	1

Willie Mullins has had a superb Punchestown festival so far and on day four it could get even better with some strong favourites set to go to post.

In the Novice Handicap Chase he holds leading claims with Fighter Allen, Blue Sari, El Barra, Fan Des Blues and Grand Bornand, with most of them prominent in the betting.

Elimay is the one to beat for the handler in the Grade Two Mares' Chase with Dolcita set to not be far away off the back of her last run.

He has two stabs in the Champion Hurdle with Echoes In Rain and Saint Roi looking to bring down Honeysuckle.

Again he holds a leading hand in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle with State Man, Kilcruit and Deploy The Getaway having big chances.

Hunters' Chase winner Billaway at the Cheltenham festival is looking to go better than his second in the Punchestown event last year and in the Novice Hurdle El Fabiolo looks very tough to beat with Ha D'or, Bring On The Night and Micro Manage in there to go close.

Mullins heads into the meeting sporting a 19% strike rate for the last two weeks managing 16 winners from 86 runners.

Patrick Mullins has a few rides on Friday at Punchestown and having already notched up a few nice victories this week he is the one to follow.

In the Champion Novice Hurdle he rides Kilcruit who was a fair third in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and now up in trip should go closer.

Mullins was a nice winner on Billaway at the Cheltenham festival and will be looking to make it back to back wins on the gelding in the Champion Hunters Chase.

The amateur riders' final ride on Friday comes in the 2m2f bumper with Don Chalant looking to break his maiden tag with some nice seconds to his name.

Mullins has managed a 33% strike rate for the last two weeks, managing to ride five winners from his last 15 rides.