2022 Punchestown Festival Day 3 – Andrew runs us through his best bets for Thursday and is excited for the festival’s Cross Country Chase.
We go into Thursday on the back of some breathtaking wins from Allaho and Facile Vega yesterday. Here’s to hoping for some more great racing today…
16:50 – Cross Country Chase – 2022 Punchestown Festival Day 3
If you have never seen a cross country race, then you are in for a treat here.
Tuesday’s hero Vital Island takes his chance again today, however, this race is a lot stonger and he steps up in trip. But, at a big price, he is worth an each-way bet.
The one they all have to beat is the cross-country specialist, SHADY OPERATOR.
Two-from-three over the cross-country course at Punchestown, Shady Operator has a huge part to play today. Only narrowly beaten by stablemate Midnight Maestro on Hollywoodbets Grand National Trials Day (on ground he wouldn’t have liked), you can be sure that he will be well prepared to bounce back from his below par run at the Cheltenham Festival, again on ground he would not have enjoyed.
Expect him to be extremely hard to beat.
18:00 – 3m Handicap Hurdle – 2022 Punchestown Festival Day 3
As you can expect with a race of this nature, there are a number in with a big chance here.
But one I really like is the Noel Meade-trained BUGS MORAN. Was a massive drifter last time out when winning at Fairyhouse, and there was no reason behind it. Has only had two runs over 3m and now 7l higher today, I cannot see this being enough to stop him going very close.
So, at around 10/1 he is a very strong each way selection.
18:35 – Arkle Novice Chase – 2022 Punchestown Festival Day 3
Gentleman De Mee – the horse that took down, in my opinion, an over the top Edwardstone at Aintree – is favourite to take the prize. To me, that is a ridiculous price and the value lies in Arkle 2nd GABYNAKO at 4/1.
A Grade 1 winner over 2m4f in November but had two below par runs after. He was dropped down to 2m for the Cheltenham Arkle and that seemed to do the trick as he was a strong finishing 2nd behind Edwardstone.
This high-class chaser can get back in the winners’ enclosure today at the expense of Gentleman De Mee.
Bet on Horse Racing at www.hollywoodbets.co.uk or www.hollywoodbets.ie
Andrew Halligan – 2022 Punchestown Festival Day 3
