Bellshill goes into the day's first Grade One as favourite. Mike Egerton / PA Archive/Press Association Images
Mike Egerton / PA Archive/Press Association Images / PA Archive/Press Association Images
GIVEN HIS DOMINANCE over the longer distance since, it is perhaps a surprise that Thistlecrack was only runner-up in this Grade One staying hurdle last year when trailing home behind fellow 8/1 shot Killultagh Vic.
The Willie Mullins-trained Bellshill will go into the race as favourite and the six-year-old is a winner of five national hunt races — both hurdles and flat — but all over 2m4f or less. He was, however, unlucky when beaten by a neck at Aintree over three miles and won’t face Ballyoptic this time around.
The biggest threat comes from Acapella Bourgeois with Aintree Grand National winner David Mullins on board while the Barry Geraghty mount Coney Island is the probably the best of the outsiders having won over this distance just last month at Fairyhouse.
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5.30pm: Punchestown Gold Cup
Cue Card on his way to winning the Betfred Bowl Chase at Aintree earlier this month. David Davies / PA Wire/Press Association Images
David Davies / PA Wire/Press Association Images / PA Wire/Press Association Images
In the wake of Don Cossack’s Cheltenham Gold Cup win, an awful lot of Cue Card backers were left wondering what might have been after the Colin Tizzard-trained 10-year-old fell when going well three out.
While the Prestbury Park hero has been ruled out, some of those questions were answered at Aintree in beating Don Poli by nine lengths with the other Mullins horse Djakadam a further eight lengths back in third.
The three face off again but there’s very little reason to doubt the form will be reversed in Wednesday’s feature race. Road To Riches might offer each-way backers the best opportunity for success.
6.05pm: Champion Irish National Hunt Flat Race
Bacardys and Battleford will go head-to-head again. Mike Egerton / PA Wire/Press Association Images
Mike Egerton / PA Wire/Press Association Images / PA Wire/Press Association Images
The aforementioned Bellshill won this race last year making it five wins in the last 10 for Mullins’ mounts and Bacardys goes into the contest as a strong favourite for the Closutton trainer.
The five-year-old finished third in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham before winning the Aintree equivalent last time out. Stablemate Battleford was only beaten by half a length that day and will look to go one better around the county Kildare track.
2015 Champion Bumper winner Moon Racer has been sidelined for 413 days since romping home at Cheltenham and David Pipe will hope his patience is rewarded with a victory in the final Grade One of the day.
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Here are the 3 races you can't afford to miss at Punchestown today
4.55pm: Three Mile Novice Hurdle
GIVEN HIS DOMINANCE over the longer distance since, it is perhaps a surprise that Thistlecrack was only runner-up in this Grade One staying hurdle last year when trailing home behind fellow 8/1 shot Killultagh Vic.
The Willie Mullins-trained Bellshill will go into the race as favourite and the six-year-old is a winner of five national hunt races — both hurdles and flat — but all over 2m4f or less. He was, however, unlucky when beaten by a neck at Aintree over three miles and won’t face Ballyoptic this time around.
The biggest threat comes from Acapella Bourgeois with Aintree Grand National winner David Mullins on board while the Barry Geraghty mount Coney Island is the probably the best of the outsiders having won over this distance just last month at Fairyhouse.
5.30pm: Punchestown Gold Cup
In the wake of Don Cossack’s Cheltenham Gold Cup win, an awful lot of Cue Card backers were left wondering what might have been after the Colin Tizzard-trained 10-year-old fell when going well three out.
While the Prestbury Park hero has been ruled out, some of those questions were answered at Aintree in beating Don Poli by nine lengths with the other Mullins horse Djakadam a further eight lengths back in third.
The three face off again but there’s very little reason to doubt the form will be reversed in Wednesday’s feature race. Road To Riches might offer each-way backers the best opportunity for success.
6.05pm: Champion Irish National Hunt Flat Race
The aforementioned Bellshill won this race last year making it five wins in the last 10 for Mullins’ mounts and Bacardys goes into the contest as a strong favourite for the Closutton trainer.
The five-year-old finished third in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham before winning the Aintree equivalent last time out. Stablemate Battleford was only beaten by half a length that day and will look to go one better around the county Kildare track.
2015 Champion Bumper winner Moon Racer has been sidelined for 413 days since romping home at Cheltenham and David Pipe will hope his patience is rewarded with a victory in the final Grade One of the day.
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Cue Card Punchestown Punchestown Festival 2016 Punchestown Gold Cup right on cue