Steve Ryder picks two betting tips for Punchestown Festival Day 2 cards.
3:23 Pontefract
Tip 1: Leadenhall - 0.5pt EW
Best odds of 11/2 available at bet365 while publishing.
This looks a competitive 0-85 handicap but preference goes to last year’s winner LEADENHALL (Best Priced at 6/1) who bids to win this race once again on his reappearance. The Tim Easterby trained six-year-old won this by 2 ¼ lengths after a 207 day break last season off a mark of 73 and he runs in it this year off a 3lb higher mark after a 184 day break.
Leadenhall also won at Haydock in August off a mark of 78 so he is now clearly well handicapped and should also relish the return to faster ground having ended last season running on softer ground and the AW. He can hopefully make it 2/2 at this track and enhance his good form fresh.
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4:15 Punchestown
Tip 2: Doctor Steinberg - 1pt
Best odds of 4/1 at PricedUp while publishing.
It is slightly surprising to see DOCTOR STEINBERG (best priced at 4/1) tried over this 3 mile trip once again having blown out in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival but the application of a first-time hood will hopefully ensure he settles. The six-year-old won his first three starts over hurdles including when beating subsequent Grade 2 winner Thedeviluno by 4 ¾ lengths at Navan and when an impressive eight length winner at the Dublin Racing Festival in a Grade 1 over 2m6f.
Going a faster pace on better ground as well as the first-time hood will hopefully ensure that Doctor Steinberg settles and if he does then he looks the one to beat.
