Who To Follow On Day Four At The Punchestown Festival?

The Grade B Mares Handicap Chase looks a decent the highly progressive Scarlet And Dove dropping back into this company could be a big player.

The mare has been frequently raced this term, but has just got better and better with every run, making her chase debut at Cork in November and finishing second to the likeable Yukon Lil.

Back over the same course and distance she was a good second to Cheltenham festival winner Mount Ida and then at the third time of asking she landed a Beginners' Chase at Limerick.

Coming with a good run when stepped up to a Grade Two at Thurles, she unfortunately took a fall when upsides the dual Grade One winning Colreevy.

She put that behind her in a Grade Three at Navan when winning easily and then backed that performance up at Limerick in a Grade Two.

Last time out the mare was seen finishing fifth of nine behind Janidil in the Grade One Gold Cup Novice Chase at Fairyhouse and now dropping back into a handicap, on a nice weight, she could be a huge player.

Supertsar 7lb claimer Jordan Gainford also takes off another 7lb which makes her even more respected.

Willie Mullins after the first two days of the meeting had managed to land 50% of the winners across the festival and on the fourth day he has some quality chances.

Dropping into handicap company for the first time, Asterion Forlonge could finally get back to winning ways over fences, although carrying top weight.

Sharjah will be looking to reverse the form with Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle and in the Novice Hurdle, MC Muldoon will not be far away having chased home Grade One winner Echoes In Rain last time out.

Over the last two weeks Mullins has managed to land 14 winners from 49 runners which sees him posing a 28.57% strike rate.

One of the biggest names in the sport this year, Rachael Blackmore is still hunting down Paul Townend for Irish Jockeys title and she has some big chances on Thursday to narrow the gap.

She sits on the superstars Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle and Bob Olinger in the Champion Novice Hurdle and it would be a shock if both of them got beat.

Blackmore has been in fine form round Punchestown over the last 12 months, having 56 rides and managing to land 12 winners and 10 places which sees her running at a 22% strike rate.