Punchestown Day Two: Mullins set for more Festival joy
Published:
Willie Mullins looks set to be jumping for joy at Punchestown on Wednesday and the leading trainer is taking no chances with a three-pronged assault in the Champion INH Flat Race.
Day two of the Festival throws up a variety of tantalising races and Mullins looks well placed to visit the winner’s enclosure not once but twice.
Mullins’ charges make up two of the three best bets of the day, which are highlighted below.
Mullins is no stranger to success in this race having landed the prize at last year’s Festival and with Boston Bob and On His Own leading the 2014 charge it is difficult to see the honours heading elsewhere.
Both charges come into this event in fine fettle, performing well in competitive races, but it is Ruby Walsh’s ride that tempts the most.
Boston Bob is finally starting to live up to previous hype after the recently landing the Melling Chase at Aintree and while the competition appears fierce here only his stablemate can stand in his way.
After crossing the post first in Cheltenham’s Champions Bumper Silver Concorde looks the horse to beat in this one but the Mullins trio of Shaneshill, Black Hercules and Killutagh Vic are all well placed to rain on his parade.
Mullins’ trio finished second, fourth and sixth in that race respectively and despite those placing it is the latter that attracts attention here.
Congestion on the run in seemed to limit Killutagh Vic’s chances at Cheltenham so a clear run could make all the difference here.
Aupcharlie heads the betting for this outing but few fields are as competitive and he looks underpriced.
Pass the Hat looks more tempting after a recent win at Leopardstown but an 8lb penalty for Arthur Moore’s charge means Competitive Edge is the pick of the bunch.
The Grand Annual at Cheltenham saw Connor O’Dwyer’s seven-year-old fall but prior to that race the JP McManus-owned horse had secured three consecutive runners-up placings.
The son of Presenting’s second to last win was piloted by AP McCoy and with the champion jockey on board again this could prove the end of an eight-race barren spell.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £50 in free bets.
