Noel Fehily looks ahead to the 2019 Punchestown Festival

Our racing ambassador Noel Fehily talks about hisfancies at this year’s Punchestown Festival in his latest blog.

I have always loved the Punchestown Festival as itwas a fairly relaxed meeting for me. I’d only have a handful of rides goingover and I’d normally have an English raider with a bit of a chance.

I had a nice winner a couple of years ago withUnowhatimeanharry and it’s a great to have a winner there. I will miss notbeing a part of it this year but I am still going and will just enjoy beingthere.

Klassical Dream was very impressive at Cheltenham and I think it will be very hard to beat him in the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle.

In the Champion Chase, I thought Min again looked so impressive at Aintree and on that form he looks hard to beat. His run at Cheltenham was probably disappointing but his run before that at Leopardstown was very good so I am drawing a line through Cheltenham.

The Dooleys Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase looks a very good race. Sometimes this race isn’t the best of them but this year’s renewal looks excellent.

I thought APlus Tard had a very good Cheltenham. I know it was a handicap but to winit by 16 lengths was very impressive. I am really looking forward to seeing himagainst the novices. I think Getabird’s jumping needs to improve. A Plus Tard is the one for me here.

The Coral Punchestown Gold Cup is a match between Kemboy and Al Boum Photo. Kemboy looked so good at Aintree. I wasn’t a big fan of his before that as I didn’t think his jumping was quite good enough but he won me over at Aintree.

For that reason, I would pick him over Al BoumPhoto. It’ll be a good race between the pair. Yes Al Boum Photo is a GoldCup winner but Kemboy really impressed at Aintree.

The Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle is an open race. It will be interesting to see what Willie Mullin’s actually runs in the race. 

I was disappointed with Apple’s Jade at Aintree; Ithought she looked a bit flat. For that reason, I would find it hard to fancyher. If she ran, I would fancy Laurina.

She looked outpaced in the Champion Hurdle atCheltenham. She went flat out all the way and I think she is crying out forthis trip. She will be my pick here if she runs.

In the Ryanair Novice Chase, Duc Des Genievres was very impressive in the Arkle. He looked a winner before they reached the top of the hill.

He won by 13 lengths which you don’t see very oftenin that race. Defi Du Seuil is coming back in trip and he’s had a great season.Again it’s a hell of a good race.

Willie Mullins’ other horse Chacun Pour Soi, boltedup last time, although I’m not sure how good a race that was. Ornua was alsovery eye-catching at Aintree so it is competitive.

If I had to pick though, I think Duc Des Genievre’sArkle performance gives him the edge. He has had plenty of time to freshen up.

The Punchestown Champion Hurdle looks a very good race too. I think Buveur D’Air was disappointing at Aintree, it was a below par performance. Melon I suppose was going well when he fell at Aintree. I would have him on my short list.

Noel