Punchestown Wednesday Preview - 01/05/19

The first race on the second day of the Punchestown festival comes in the Series Final Handicap Hurdle over 2 mile 5 furlong and we have gone for the Jessica Harrington trained Press Conference.

This consistent performer looks to have a great chance in this race off the back of his latest performance at Limerick when he beat 15 runners including the unexposed Annamix owned by Rich Ricci.

This win has since been franked by that horse making his form line and strong and if coming on for that run will be sure to be in the mix at a nice price.

The next race on the agenda is the Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle over 2 miles 4 furlongs and we have gone for the Thomas Mullins trained Chavi Artist.

This six year old looks to be in the mix on his recent exploits, not finishing outside of the top three on his last three runs and got of the mark nicely on his last outing.

His win came at Fairyhouse in a eight runner maiden hurdle he is now two pounds lower than that winning mark which makes him very easy to back.

The third race of the day is the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle over 2 1/2 miles and we have gone for the Gordon Elliott trained Vision D'honneur.

This Gigginstown Stud owned five year old has only raced four times in his career and on most of them has ran to a consistent level finishing in and around the frame on three of them.

On his second outing he landed a 21 runner maiden hurdle which put him on the map and on his last outing finished a less than disgraced ninth in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival.

If coming on for being in that Group 1 company he has every chance back in this sphere.

The first Grade 1 of the day gives us a great spectacle in Ireland and we have gone for two shouts in this one with the Gordon Elliott trained Commander Of Fleet and Walk Away for Henry De Bromhead.

Starting with the Gigginstown runner Commander of Fleet and this five year old has really come into his own this season winning a Grade 1 at Leopardstown and finishing a good second in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham festival.

If coming on again he really does have a big chance of landing his second Grade 1.

The other horse at a bigger price and advertised at an each way angle is Walk Away and this lightly raced six year old is another horse full of improvement only racing three times, winning his first two is good style and then finishing a solid fourth in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices Hurdle at Aintree.

One to watch from the outsiders.

The feature race of the day and arguably the five day festival is the Punchestown Gold Cup and in this Grade 1 we have gone for the Willie Mullins trained Kemboy.

This seven year old superstar has hardly put a foot wrong all year winning three out of his four races with two of them coming in Group 1 company and has a stand out chance of landing this contest.

He won the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown before being a smart fancy for the Cheltenham Gold Cup but unseating his rider at the first fence.

He rectified that at Aintree being one of the fresher horses and landed the Betway Bowl. A similar effort to that will see him go close in what looks another competitive Gold Cup.

Sticking with the Mullins camp and owners Supreme Horse Racing Club we have gone for their horse Golden Spread in the Grade 1 Conyngham Cup.

This National Hunt Flat Race shows off some of the best in Ireland across the season and Golden Spread is one of those, racing four times this year and getting better and better with each run.

He finished third and second on his first two runs and since then has been unbeaten beating some strong horses in his way and is seeking a hat-trick on his toughest test to date.

The final selection of day two of the Punchestown festival is the Grade 3 National Hunt Flat race over 2 miles and we have gone for he Peter Fahey trained Gypsy Island.

This five year old has won three out of her four runs this season with his other being a good second where if being honest he should of won the race.

She is a very improving mare who will turn out to be a decent hurdler in the future and on what might be her last run in this sphere and seeking a hat-trick she will be tough to beat.