For those of you eagerly anticipating the tips for Day 4 of Punchestown, I’m afraid I was laid low by Jab 2 and am not much better today. I won’t bore you with the details, but I am “cream-crackered”. Every one of my joints feels as though it has actually been to the glue factory and dealt with harshly. The chums who were going to sit in my garden tonight have been cancelled, the shutters are being lowered and the duvets piled high. This miserable weather doesn’t help, but I don’t think we’re suffering from Seasonal Affliction Disorder. It might simply be that we have spent so much of the last year at Defcon 4, constantly induced to a state of fear, by too many scientific cooks spoiling the weak statistical broth, that, as we become safer, more immune, and free from restriction, our adrenalin levels just plummet.
In other words, we all need a damn good break.
1:50 NEWMARKET “My Oddsboost” On Betfair Suffolk Hcap Stks Cl2 (3yo+) 1m1f ITV 10 run
STARCAT has been gelded recently and is apparently improved greatly. OVERWRITE might take this from the front.
STARCAT Win – OVERWRITE e/w
2:05 GOODWOOD MansionBet Best Odds Guaranteed Conqueror Fillies’ Stks Cl1 (3yo+) 1m ITV 6 run
AMNIARIX Win
2:25 NEWMARKET Betfair Palace House Stks (G3) Cl1 (3yo+) 5f ITV 9 run
A big step up for ALJADY and JUDICIAL has been second in this in 2018 and 2020, bioth times on seasonal reappearance.
ALJADY – JUDICIAL Dutched
2:40 THIRSK Cliff Stud Thirsk Hunt Cup Hcap Cl2 (4yo+ 0-105) 1m ITV 16 run
Winner of the Spring Cup LTO and only given 5lbs? You’re kidding. The other was with Elsy and is now with Haggas who is in top form.
NUGGET Win – 1pt RFC with TOM COLLINS
3:00 NEWMARKET Betfair Exchange Jockey Club Stks (G2) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m4f ITV 5 run
If there is a danger to the selection, it is AL ZARAQAAN, but I am nothing if not loyal to the winner of last year’s Great Voltigeur and St Leger 3rd.
PYLEDRIVER Win
3:40 NEWMARKET Qipco 2000 Guineas Stks (G1) Cl1 (3yo) 1m ITV 15 run
Wide-open. Does AOB win – again? Or son of? Or Jessie who is firing on all eight? Or Charlie. This is wide-open as the prices suggest.
MUTASAABEQ Win – POETIC FLARE e/w – LUCKY VEGA e/w
2:15 PUNCHESTOWN Dooley Insurance Group Cross Country Chs (5yo+) 3m1f RTV 16 run
NEVERUSHACON Win – MY HOMETOWN e/w
2:50 PUNCHESTOWN Colm Quinn BMW Group Hcap Chs (5yo+ 0-145) 3m7f RTE2 20 run
MISTER FOGPATCHES Win – ANIBALE FLY e/w
3:20 PUNCHESTOWN Coolmore Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares Champion Hdl (G1) (4yo+) 2m4f RTE2 9 run
SKYACE e/w – 1pt RFC CONCERTISTA
4:00 PUNCHESTOWN Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hdl (G1) (4yo) 2m RTE2 9 run
JEFF KIDDER e/w
4:30 PUNCHESTOWN Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Hcap Chs (GB) (5yo+ 0-150) 3m½f RTE2 20 run
NICK LOST e/w – ROARING BULL e/w – BRAHMA BULL e/w
5:05 PUNCHESTOWN BARONERACING.COM Hcap Hdl (GB) (4yo+) 2m4f RTE2 24 run
CAPE GENTLEMAN Win – DROP THE ANCHOR e/w – PEREGRINE RUN e/w
5:40 PUNCHESTOWN Colm Quinn BMW Group Mares Hcap Hdl (4yo+) 2m4f RTV 16 run
IRREGULARHEARTBEAT e/w
6:10 PUNCHESTOWN Buggyman (Pro/Am) Bumper (4-7yo) 2m RTV 16 run
APOLLO TEN Win
PLEASE NOTE
I will not be posting tomorrow for The Thousand Guineas, as I have taken my own advice and will be laying low. However, if you get the chance, have a look again at SACRED’s run in the Nell Gwyn HERE. Look where she was at the four-pole and then the three. Then when she looks jammed in at 1½, she is brave enough to fight her way through and win. I don’t believe the result will be overturned. She is currently 7/1 with Betway and 6s with Bet365. She would be super value at 9/2. I was really impressed.
