Punchestown Festival 2023

It's worth noting Willie Mullins largely kept his powder dry at Aintree last week with a view to attacking Punchestown with both barrels and, with that policy likely to reap rewards during the five-day festival, there's a decent chance the Closutton handler will break many more records.  

The champion trainer is responsible for a large representation in the opening Grade 1 of the meeting, The KPMG Champion Novices' Hurdle, and of the septet making the five-day entry stage, Impaire Et Passe, rates the most interesting. 

Winner of the Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival, the son of Diamond Boy showed the sort of speed in the latter part of the contest to suggest dropping back to two miles wouldn't be an issue and providing he comes through his final test of the season with flying colours, he will head into the Winter with his connections thinking along the lines of a possible Champion Hurdle tilt. 

Obviously, a good deal will depend which route Constitution Hill takes, but even if Nicky Henderson's inmate stays in his lane for the time being, Impaire Et Passe has all the attributes to make the two-mile division a more interesting one next season. 

Bookmakers have quite rightly taken few chances with Galopin Des Champs in the Punchestown Gold Cup, chalking him up at 2/7 to repeat his Cheltenham exploits, but with the layers offering three place terms on a race that could easily cut up to less than eight runners, it makes sense to look at each-way alternatives. 

Reportedly, Bravemansgame is unlikely to make the gig due to his ongoing technicalities, and there's a strong possibility we won't be seeing the likes of Capodanno and Conflated after they were both pulled up at Aintree.

Envoi Allen, Fury Road and Janidil all have plenty of top-class Grade 1s between them, but most of their best form has all come over 2m4f, so that leaves Hewick as the one who makes the most appeal at the current odds. 

Still in contention when a faller at the second last in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Shark Hanlon stated it would be the wrong thing to do to ask his stable star to take part in the Grand National in such a short space of time, but the prospects of him dusting himself down for Punchestown with another two weeks reflection time makes a good deal more sense. 

Had he stayed on his feet at Cheltenham, there's little doubt he would have finished fourth at worst, and a repeat of something similar would be good enough to make him hugely competitive for the place prize money at the Co Kildare venue. 

Another race that is likely to cut up in pretty dramatic fashion is the Punchestown Champion Chase. As it stands, Energumene is the current 2/5 favourite to follow up his Cheltenham success and providing the ground stays genuinely soft, there's every chance Mullins' inmate will confirm form with Captain Guinness. 

However, based on the fact Henry de Bromhead's gelding was the only horse to offer any resistance to the current champion a month ago, there's a strong possibility he will chase home his old rival again and at his current odds of 13/2 and makes plenty of appeal as the each-way alternative. 

Even though bookmakers are only offering two places on this race, there might be a scenario whereby just three or even four go to post, so for ante-post purposes, this contest isn't quite the dead rubber as it appears at first glance. 

Advised Bet - 1/2pt Each-Way Double

  • Hewick @ 20/1 - Punchestown Gold Cup (Three Places)
  • Captain Guinness @ 13/2 - Punchestown Champion Chase (Two Places)