Jake Price has two tips for the final day of action at the 2026 Punchestown Festival and one for Uttoexeter.
Staffordshire Plate Handicap Chase
14:35 Uttoxeter
With Calimystic withdrawn the last twice he was set to encounter Good ground and Joyeux Machin raised 5lbs for winning a nothing race at Bangor last time, I thought the Staffordshire Plate was open for one at a bigger price this year – and KING’S THRESHOLD looks worth chancing as he is a horse who needs these sorts of quick conditions to thrive.
This Emma Lavelle 9yo has been on an upward trajectory over fences for the past year, as following wind surgery he completed a quick double at Newbury in March off a mark of 127 when tipped up in this column. This season he clearly needed the run when starting out at Cheltenham in October and sent off an unfancied 20/1 shot, but next time out at Newbury in the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial he stuck to his task very gamely when a fast finishing fourth over a unique 2m6½f trip.
His performance over 3m2f at Newbury on the 29th December is what rates him as a true improver to me however, as I actually deserted him that day in favour of Annual Invictus – who set a frantic gallop out in front. When there is a runner like that in the field it really leaves no hiding place, but I thought he coped extremely well after a few early sticky jumps. Upon turning for home, he travelled up menacingly, and by the time they jumped the third last he was cantering all over his rivals. After popping the last he scooted away under hands and heels to score by an easy 3.25 lengths, in what can only be described as an impressive victory.
The handicapper has obviously had his say in raising him 6lbs in the weights (subsueqntly dropped 1lb for never getting involved in the Kim Muir), but to be honest considering the manner of his victory I think that is more than fair. What’s more is that the third placed Rivers Corner (129) has since bolted up in the Somerset National at Wincanton before winning at Exeter to boost the form.
I am happy to excuse his run in the Kim Muir as that effort was ‘Plan C’ having twice been a Non-Runner at Doncaster due to the drying ground, but it seems like this plan to get him to Uttoxeter has been on the cards every since. First time cheekpieces also go on, which have to be a big help to him.
BresBet
Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase
15:45 Punchestown
Tom Lacey’s MONTREGARD has been a bit of the talk of the town over the past couple of weeks, as he was a Non-Runner in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr due to the ground being too soft, before then being a Non-Runner in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown due to the ground being too quick. Hopefully goldilocks has got his ideal conditions at Punchestown then, as he clearly is a well-treated animal.
This 7yo began his season in November when winning over 3m at Ascot, where after jumping up nicely at the second last he found plenty under pressure to lengthen away from Muskoka (119). He rather spat the dummy out at Kempton in December when dropping to the rear at the seventh fence, and as such regardless of price he can only even be a win proposition considering it is not the first time he has done something similar.
Returning to Ascot in January he ran another cracker, where on this occasion he once more found plenty under pressure. Running off a 6lbs higher mark than when victorious in November, he jumped the last near enough upsides The Jukebox Kid (142) – but that rival simply found more after the last, and he has since won a Grade 2 before being sent off an 8/1 shot for the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. The third In D’Or (137) ran well enough in the Bet365 last weekend, and the fourth Kap Vert (136) won the Scottish Grand National the week prior to that.
MONTREGARD himself boosted the form at Ascot in February when going on to land the Premier Swinley Handicap Chase off a mark of 128 (3lbs out of the handicap), and that form has also had a bit of a boost with Your Darling (144) since bolting up at Ludlow. If Tom Lacey can get him to turn up in similar form, then I think he is more than capable of winning a race like this off his new mark of 134, and Jonathan Burke retaining the ride is certainly a positive.
Champion Four Year Old Hurdle
16:55 Punchestown
The market only really wants to know about the Triumph Hurdle winner Apolon De Charnie here, but one I want to test against that form line is Willie Mullins’ MAJOLIQUE, who looks a very talented Filly. On debut she looked a bit mad when winning the Listed Juvenile Hurdle at Naas in February, looking keen, smashing up a wing of one of the hurdles, but ultimately scoring by four lengths under a hands and heels ride.
Last time out at Fairyhouse I thought she was given far too much to do in the Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle there, as she cruised into the contest form last place under Paul Townend. She made ground into third at the second last and tried to close the leaders down after the last, but in the end she had to settle for a fast finishing third behind stablemates Proactif and Macho Man.
Back in her native France she was a winner at Longchamp on ground described as ‘Good to Soft’ so I actually think that the quicker ground at Punchestown will suit her, and therefore if she consents to drop her head in the early stages and can race in a more prominent position to boot, she surely has to have big claims here in receipt of the 7lbs allowance. The only worry is that Danny Mullins picked Macho Man rather than our selection, but Sean O’Keeffe is a more than capable booking.
