3.40 – Specialist Joinery Group Handicap Hurdle
A handicap hurdle to kick proceedings off on what looks to be the most difficult day for punters yet. A wide-open race but GIN COCO (11/2) is one to take note off. Harry Fry doesn’t send horses over to Ireland just for pint a Guinness. Has a great strike rate when sending horses across the sea and this one look to have a mighty chance? Only seen a racecourse three times. Second in a hurdle race over in France and second again in a Maiden hurdle but finally got off the mark on the third attempt when winning at fontwell by 14 Lengths. Lumps around top weight here but he looks to be getting better and off a mark of 123 he could just be better than this his mark and this lot. [akurai_table reviews=”7133″ terms=”long” lazy_logo=”true”]4.15 – Pigsback.com Handicap Chase
The big handicap chase of the day is up next, MT LEINSTER (10/3) has taken his time to get the hang of jumping the big fences but has won his last twice. He is a not the most straight forward horse and has thrown in a race ending shocker at times and does start slowly race but if there is one man to get him going that’s Danny Mullins. He has only gone up 6lbs from his last win but that day he still would have won with 6lbs more albeit he was left out in front. You can see why he wears a hood but now he’s on a role he could be hard to stop.4.50- Mongey Communication La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase
One of my strongest fancies for the day runs in this SHADY OPERATOR (10/3), the second-best cross-country horse over in Ireland in my opinion (now second to Delta Work) Hated the ground at Cheltenham and didn’t travel a yard. Hard to say whether he just didn’t get home but a run to put a line through. Has a cracking record over this shorter course and before his second to his stable mate in February he had a perfect 2/2 record over these fences. Back on good ground, Derek O’Connor on top the weight doesn’t bother me and Enda Bolger absolutely farms these races and is just the best horse in the race by a mile.5.25- Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle
The first of the Grade 1s and looks a fairly simple task for KLASSICAL DREAM (5/4). Won this race last year after a long time off and with no Flooring Porter in here he could get an easy time in the lead. He ran pretty well at Cheltenham last time, was the last one off the bridle but just kick on when shove came to shove. It could have been the case; he just didn’t stay up the Cheltenham hill. He could just dictate the race and can see him overturning the form with Paisley Park who over took him in the latter stages of the Cheltenham race.6.00- Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle
The second of the competitive handicap hurdles. Nicky Henderson sends two over, but CITY CHIEF (8/1) is the pick of them. Once thought of as an Albert Bartlett Horse at the beginning of the season, has been slightly disappointing although his second behind Wonderwall doesn’t read to badly, reports after the race too he scoped bad and was extremely sick. Wasn’t seen for a couple of months but came back stepped up to 3m and won very easily at short odds. Reappeared in a handicap hurdle at the Scottish Grand National meeting and won well. Seemed to once again, appreciate the 3m. This is a big step up in class for him, but he is only 5, seems to be improving and can see him running a big race.7.10 Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Handicap Chase
Another very competitive race and once again I am going for an English Trainer, another one who does very well when sending horses over to Ireland. DEJA VUE (7/1) trained by Anthony Honeyball is an intriguing runner. Bit of a mixed record over fences but is a very good mare when she puts everything right. Has been tried in some good races including when she fell in the mares listed chase at Exeter won by Snow Leopardess and was second last time out in a useful novice chase when going off 11/10fav made a mistake at a crucial stage but fought back and had every chance but just couldn’t get to the winner. Steps up back to her own sex up another furlong which looks sure to suit Loves to front run and could just have them at it from an early stage. Shane Fitzgerald takes off a very useful 5 and with the Tongue tie back everything looks to be in her favour and will be very hard to pass and will take a good one to beat her.7.45 JP&M Doyle Celebrating 70 Years In Business (c&g) Flat Race
The last race of day 3 and the easiest for punters, the get out jail race will be won by JAMES’S GATE (8/13). Was third in the Cheltenham bumper behind the mighty superstar Facile Vega with American Mike in second. There are no Facile Vegas or American Mikes in this field, and this should be plain sailing for him, and won’t even have to get out of second gear to win this.Punchestown Festival Free Bets
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