As the ante-post markets still take shape, Johnny Ward has picked out three horses to look out for at the Punchestown Festival 2023.
I spent a beautiful morning in Moone on Tuesday to witness Jessica Harrington at her best, showing us around her idyllic yard – as well as two strings of Flat horses.
We discussed this and that and Nicky Henderson. They're pals for a long time and one can tell that Nicky loves little more than a trip to Punchestown, for all that he may not have that many runners in County Kildare.
That is understandable and he has to do best by his horses and owners but it is a major concern that Willie Mullins will obliterate everything in front of him next week.
Matt Tombs' tweet is startling. In the past 10 Punchestown Festivals, of the Grade 1s, Henry de Bromhead has won six, Gordon Elliott nine. Willie Mullins has won 72.
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Remember the days when he used to be behind in the trainers' championship going into week 52 of the season! As such, with markets understandably in slumber mode this week despite the Festival just over half a week away, it is difficult to be confident about what will run (where) – not to mind what will win.
At the very least, Bravemansgame features among six entries for the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup next Wednesday, although it remains unclear whether the eight-year-old will be permitted to run! Bravemansgame had been due to run in the Aintree Bowl last week but was blocked from doing so by the BHA due to issues with the horse’s ownership.
We really need runners in these big Punchestown races. With a scatter of bumpers, hunter chases and banks races on the undercard, it could be pretty uninspiring stuff at times.
As for Jessica Harrington, what a woman. At 76, having 16 rounds of chemotherapy out of the way just in time for Ireland's premier National Hunt Festival, she is beyond the futility of words.
Here are three horses to look out for next week in any event.
Cool Survivor
Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle, Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle, Fitzwilliam Sports Handicap Hurdle
Three Grade 1 winners at Aintree more than justified Gordon Elliott's decision to go there – indeed Elliott admitted the fact that Mullins was not really targeting Aintree was a big incentive for his plans – and it seems unlikely he will ask many of his top horses who went to the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree to run against next month. But Cool Survivor is fascinating.
Cool Survivor went from Grade 1 (Leopardstown) to Cheltenham (handicap) to Aintree (Grade 1), very much taking the eye with how he travelled in the Grade 1s but flopping in the middle. He went so early at Aintree, he has to be likely to end the season at Punchestown, but it is really hard to know where he might go.
The fascinating race he might go for is the Fitzwilliam Handicap Hurdle, in which he would be rated 135. He was well-fancied at Cheltenham and surely is worth another chance.
Love Envoi
Coolmore N.H. Sires Mogul Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle
Love Envoi looks a great bet in the Mares' Grade 1 and the only concern is that she was so well-beaten by Brandy Love at Fairyhouse last year. Since then, Brandy Love has disappointed twice and it was really disappointing she could not make more of an impression at Cheltenham, even though she was ridden with extreme patience on that occasion.
Love Envoi's plan since Cheltenham has been to come here, she pretty much holds everything on form with Honeysuckle retired, Brandy Love hangs left – this should go to the raiders.
Grandero Bello
EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Steeplechase
The story of Grandero Bello is quite interesting. Trainer Eddie Harty said: "He is owned by Josie Reed, Nicky Henderson's sister and her pal Robert Caddick. Barry Geraghty sourced the horse and had the Henderson connection.
"Josie wanted to have a horse in Ireland as during covid, she realised she had ancestors in Ireland. Patrick (son and joint-trainer) was assistant to Nicky and I'd be pally with Nicky for a long time, so she sent the horse to us."
This horse looks potentially really well-treated. He hammered Macs Charm at Gowran and that horse since bolted up in a handicap off 135. Macs Charm's second to the high-class Thedevilscoachman was a cracking preparation for this. He jumps really well, runs off 139 and is one from one at Punchestown.
