2012 Punchestown Festival Tuesday Betting Preview
- By A.J. Ryder on April 23, 2012 15:12 GMT
We're finally set with the last big jumps festival of the 2011/12 National Hunt season and the opening day of Punchestown looks as great as ever with a number of high-calibre contenders set to line up on day one.
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Expect softer conditions as the day unfolds with the possibility of good to soft (soft in places) being a possibility if things dry out a bit.
The opener is the Kildare Hunt Club FR Sean Breen Memorial Chase (For the Ladies Perpetual Cup), while the race title is a mouthful, actually handicapping this one is even trickier. There are no genuine stand-out contenders in this one and many come in with relatively mixed records as they look to contest this 3m distance.
Heisacoolhand is relatively lightly-raced and won last time out – something only a few of the contenders here can admit. Ma Chara improved significantly last time and should be won to keep your eye on. Being pulled up twice in a row didn't bode well for his effort at Strabally but he finished only a mere four lengths behind – his best finish since 2009.
Clonbeale Vacation is hanging around at the bottom of the weights and has taken two low-profile victories on the bounce. A quirky field like this one might be just the right spot to strike.
In the 4:20 second race, we've got a mere five contenders set to go 2m in this Grade 1 novice hurdle. All five go off at 11-12 with Alderwood getting the slightest of edges from a ratings-perspective. Alderwood scored at Cheltenham in the Grade 3 Vincent O'Brien Handicap Hurdle against a field of 26 when sent off at 20/1. He then followed that up with a three lengths and a bit score at Fairyhouse next time out. The Grade 2 Novice Hurdle was trickier than it looked and he attained a career-high 143 OR coming out of that one.
Trifolium looks solid for the place money, which should be scant with only five runners set to contest this one.
Check out the Betting Choice blog for parts 2 and 3 of this Punchestown Betting Preview!
