Punchestown Festival Opening Day Betting Preview Part One

The final major festival of the 2010/11 Jumps Racing season is set to unfold at Punchestown with a literal who's-who of prominent chasers and hurdlers set to contest several major races. The opening day's action is anchored by three Grade 1 contests with four other exciting races serving as buffers between each graded contest.

We'll be taking a look at each of the races on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival over the next two posts. Let's dive in and try to get a better idea of just how things are expected to shape up.

3:40 KILDARE HUNT CLUB FR. SEAN BREEN MEMORIAL CHASE (FOR THE LADIES PERPETUAL CUP)

Thirteen contenders are set to line up in this one and it's one of the more open contests on the day. There is no genuine stand-out in here with Wedger Pardy going off as the top weight having run well in this contest in the past, winning it twice. Seven-year-old Outlaw Pete has been competitive in several point-to-points recently and got up to win last time out at Kilmallock. The John McManus-owned gelding hasn't finished off the board once this year and is 2331 on the season. His stablemate Zest For Life looks to have a bit more experience with a few solid outings over the Hunter Chase circuit this year. He gets Nina Carberry and the pair have won together in the past.

4:20 EVENING HERALD CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE (GRADE 1)

Seven contenders will be competing in this novice hurdle contest with three of them representing the Gigginstown House Stud. There is no clear favourite and at least four or five of these ones look like potential winners. You get the idea that the pace will likely be quite quick for this one and it could be very interesting if all of the main contenders are there-or-thereabouts on the run-in. Impressive novice Oilily has never finished outside the top two in his eleven-race career and he was beaten by three-quarters of a length at Aintree in the John Smith's Top Novices' Chase. He is a Grade 3 winner and is Group 1-placed with a price of 10/3 setting him just a hairsbreath ahead of the field.

McCoy gets the mount on 7/2 Shot From The Hip with 4/1 prices being listed on Rathlin, Far Away So Close and Hidden Universe. Of that trio, Rathlin looks to be the choice with a solid second-place finish in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse just last week. He was a beaten favourite on the day but jumped well and could be set to progress again here. His sixth in the Supreme Novices is a decent sign that he's moving in the right direction.

4:55 THE "3" HANDICAP HURDLE (GRADE C)

A lengthy field of 21 will be contesting this one over 2m and you get the feeling that a number of punters will be looking to play some very tasty each-way options in this one. Expect decent prices for the winner no real favourite is going to emerge here with punters. The Jigsaw Man enters as top weight but boasts a credible prep for this one- capturing a race at listed level when coming back after nearly a year on the sidelines. There were only four in the race, mind you, but he certainly knows how to win and is 4/7 lifetime over hurdles.

Salesin takes a bit of a step up in this one but he should be able to handle things if the race goes according to plan and he is well-weighted for this one. He's taken back to back scores at Cork and Wexford after finishing third in three races, previously. Willy Mullins could be set to make a real statement with Wee Giant, who hasn't won since September but has acquitted himself fairly well in the past and should enjoy the going.