Punchestown Tips: Tuesday's 9/1 Most Backed Treble

Energumene

It’s hard to build too much of a case for short price favourite ENERGUMENE not winning the Punchestown Champion Chase on Tuesday, given that the nine-year-old has won Grade 1 races (over this C&D) at this meeting in both 2021 and 2022. 

Willie Mullins’ charge, 2/5 at the time of writing, ran out a facile winner of this contest last year (8½ lengths from Chacun Pour Soi) and demonstrated he remains at the peak of his powers when cruising to a second successive victory in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham six weeks ago. 

There were questions to answer heading into that race after an uncharacteristically disappointing showing in the rescheduled Clarence House Chase.

However, he jumped and travelled well throughout and the only question in the closing stages was how far he would win by – the answer being 10 lengths from Captain Guinness.

More than 80% of the bets on the Punchestown Champion Chase since final declarations were made on Sunday have gone the way of Energumene.

Facile Vega

FACILE VEGA, the son of ‘wonder mare’ Quevega, followed in his mother’s footsteps when landing the Champion Bumper at last year’s Cheltenham Festival but came up short in his quest for a Festival double in the 2023 curtain raiser last month.

The six-year-old went into that race as a 9/4 favourite despite finishing 5th at the Dublin Racing Festival. He was found to be lame following the race won by Il Etait Temps, 11/2 third favourite for Tuesday’s Champion Novice Hurdle (Facile Vega leads the market at 4/6).

Facile Vega produced a better performance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle but finished 3¼ lengths behind race winner Marine Nationale, a surprise withdrawal from the Punchestown Festival. 

Almost 78% of punters betting on the win market for Tuesday’s Champion Novice Hurdle since Sunday have backed Facile Vega.

Sir Gerhard

Dual Cheltenham hero SIR GERHARD (2021 Champion Bumper & 2022 Ballymore) is, perhaps, the surprise inclusion on this most backed treble for the first day at Punchestown having finished last of the nine to make it home in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at this year's Festival.

The Cheveley Park Stud owned eight-year-old wasn’t sighted this season until January at Gowran Park when making light work of just two rivals, after which trainer Mullins quickly nominated the Brown Advisory as his Cheltenham target.

An examination post his disappointing run at Prestbury Park failed to reveal any abnormalities, providing fresh hope for his backers in the Champion Novice Chase.

Patrick Mullins will be on board Sir Gerhard (7/2) this time, as Paul Townend sticks with Appreciate It (best price 4/1). Journey With Me heads the market under Rachael Blackmore (11/4).

Sir Gerhard features in 23% of betslips for the Champion Novice Chase.