The Punchestown festival gets under way on Tuesday with a number of Cheltenham winners in action on the opening day.
Douvan got Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh off to a flyer at Cheltenham when living up to expectations in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. He reappears in the Champion Novice Hurdle at 4.20 and is impossible to oppose. Sizing John was seven lengths adrift at the festival and looks clear second-best here.
Punters are unlikely to get rich by supporting RSA Chase winner Don Poli at 6.40 either. He was one of the most impressive winners of the meeting in the RSA Chase and is now one of the market leaders for next season’s Gold Cup. It remains to be seen just how good a race it was this year but there will be some long faces in the unsaddling enclosure if he fails to win on Tuesday.
Just as in Douvan’s race, the biggest threat looks likely to come from a horse that was behind at Cheltenham. Wounded Warrior was an honourable third, eight lengths behind Don Poli.
If those two races look like a cakewalk for Mullins, the same cannot be said for the Champion Chase at 5.30. He runs three here, led by Champagne Fever. The grey came within inches of completing a third successive victory at the festival when beaten on the nod in the Arkle Chase last season. His chasing career has spluttered along since, seemingly with no clear indication of what his best trip is. Mullins seemed convinced that it was two and a half miles after he failed to stay in the King George but is now reverting to two miles. My guess is that Ruby Walsh will try to reproduce the front running display that so nearly won the Arkle.
He is joined in the field by Felix Yonger and Twinlight. I much prefer Felix Yonger of the pair, a winner over Argocat at Navan last month. John Hanlon is trying blinkers on Hidden Cyclone for the first time after a disappointing run behind Uxizandre at the festival. He has some top class form in the past and will be an obvious threat if the blinds have the desired effect.
A Mullins treble on the opening day would not hit the bookmakers too hard at the prohibitive prices on offer but 3-1 looks fair for Champagne Fever.
Douvan 4.20 @1-4 William Hill
Champagne Fever 5.30 @3-1 Paddy Power
Don Poli 6.40 @4-9 Betfred
Betfair:
Bet on Henrik Stenson to become the BMW PGA Championship Winner.
Paddypower:
Back Australia to take the Ashes home with them.
Betway:
Back Rafael Nadal to become the Mens French Open Winner.
Coral:
Back One For Arthur to win the Grand National.
Bet365:
Back Mexico to win the Confederations Cup.
