Who To Follow On Day Three At Punchestown - 28/04/22

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Punchestown - April 27 2022
Punchestown 16:25
3
Paul Townend

Klassical Dream

J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
N/A
Age: 8
Weight: 11-10
OR: 163
Days: 42

The feature race on day three is the Grade One Champion Stayers Hurdle over three miles and this race looks set up for Klassical Dream and Paul Townend.

The eight year old is a very up and down horse but when on song is very tough to beat, being thought of as a two miler earlier in his career but is now a solid stayer.

His novice campaign in 2018/19 was nothing short of superb winning all four of his events including the G1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle and G1 Champion Novice Hurdle at this festival.

Finding things trickier when going over two miles in open company his 19/20 season was scrapped after two poor efforts in tough company.

Given time, he returned in April last year at this meeting and on his first try at three miles bolted up to land this event in style.

Ran more frequently this term he made a superb start to the term when landing the G1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown but after that was poor at Gowran Park and was well beat in the end at the Cheltenham festival in the Stayers' Hurdle.

However, getting back to a track he is unbeaten at, in the race he won last year and no Flooring Porter to compete with, he looks the pick of the bunch and has everything going for him to get back on track.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
27/04/23PUN23.5Gd/Y11-101
16/03/23CHL24Sft11-109
04/12/22FAI19.5Sft11-102
21/05/22AUT25.5VSft10-102
28/04/22PUN23.5Gd/Y11-101

Traine To Follow - Henry De Bromhead

Henry De Bromhead has some nice chances on the third day of the festival and not being in bad form heading into the Punchestown festival should see him have some winners across the week, with all eyes turning to Friday with Honeysuckle having her final run of the season.

However, on the Thursday he starts the day with a big chance in the Handicap Hurdle with Hide And Seek heading into the event off the back of a nice win and still a lowly handicap mark.

In the two mile handicap chase he gives the smart mare Magic Daze her handicap debut and she could be well in off 135 and also in the race Zarkareva and Arahecan go for the trainer.

Another nice chance for the handler is Coeur Sublime who is seeking G1 glory in the Barberstown Novice Chase, but he will need to go better than his seventh in the Arkle.

Kapard goes for the yard in the Mares' Handicap Chase and in the bumper Tag Man will be looking to put up a career best.

De Bromhead heads into the third day at the meeting sporting a 16% strike rate having had five winners from his last 31 runners.

Jockey To Follow - Shane Fitzgerald

5lb claimer Shane Fitzgerald is one of the best apprentice jockey in Ireland and on Thursday has some decent rides that could see him in the winners enclosure.

In the opener he rides Walnut Beach with the five year old having some good form over hurdles winning two starts ago and could go close off his handicap mark.

In the Handicap Chase Grange Walk holds a leading chance having looked promising before falling two out last time out and only 1lb higher he has a big chance.

Fitzgerald teams up with Anthony Honeyball in the Mares Handicap Chase on Deja Vue who will be looking to bounce back to form.