Punchestown Festival betting preview – Day two picks and advice

After the thrill of Tuesday is a distant memory, we head into day two of the Punchestown Festival in search of more winning horse racing betting tips.

Today might be the day where Galopin Des Champs cements his place as one of the greatest 3 miler chasers of all time as he looks to win all 3 Gold Cups in one season. All that stands in his way is his bitter rival Fastorslow, Scottish raider and former Grand National winner Corach Rambler, and the £800 people horse, Hewick.

I can not see him being beaten, but at the prices, I would not recommend betting on him, just sit back and watch history being created.

Now, let’s see what day two has to offer with my day two horse racing betting tips, which you can use on the following best horse race betting sites.

Punchestown Festival betting tips

A jam-packed day two of the Punchestown Festival with no less than eight races that go to post, with the highlight being the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup.

I’m going to look at four races for today and give you my best horse racing betting tip from each, starting with the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle.

Punchestown 3:40 – 2m3½f Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle

This is a race that I have had a lot of success in over the years, and this year one stands out on his own, and that is MISTERGIF.

Since his 18-length win in his maiden hurdle at Limerick, Mistergif has been highly tried since. He finished a respectable 5th behind Slade Steel in the Supreme Novices Hurdle and backed that up with a 4th in the Grade 1 Top Novices Hurdle at the Grand National Festival behind Mystical Power.

The step up in trip should be a help here, and a reproduction of either of his two previous runs should be more than good enough to take this. 

This represents a big drop-down in class, and expect him to be good enough to take this.

One who may give him the most to do is 16/1 shot, Gorgeous Tom.

Current odds:

• Mistergif 11/8
• Celatus Poolaw 11/2
• No Flies On Him 6/1
• East India Express 9/1
• Antrim Coast 10/
• Don Chalant 12/1
• 16/1 Gorgeous Tom 16/1

Bet on Mistergif to win the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle

Punchestown 4:15 – 3m Grade 1 Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle

This is a crack race as with the Albert Bartlett winner Steller Story who had Dancing City behind in 3rd that day, but he himself has since gone on to beat The Jukebox Man (2nd in the Albert Bartlett) in a Grade 1 at Aintree. Then throw in the Martin Pipe winner Better Days Ahead, and we have the makings of a top 3m Grand 1 novice hurdle.

I find it hard to split the top two here, as Dancing City got the job done nicely for us last time out but I have come down on the side of STELLAR STORY.

The reasoning is that to me Dancing City had a very hard race at Aintree and visually it looked to back it up.

Stellar Story comes in here as the fresher horse and who knows how much confidence that win in the Albert Bartlett has done for him. We have seen so many times what a win can do for a horse who has been playing at the top table of his division all season, and we could be about to see another jolt of improvement out of this Gordon Elliott inmate.

Interestingly, Emmet Mullins seems to be doing what Emmet Mullins does best and keeping us on our toes as he has declared Backmesackme after a win in a Cork bumper. But don’t be surprised if he runs a massive race as he did something similar with Feronily to take a Grade 1 Novice Chase at this very festival.

But when the taps are turned on at the business end of the race I expect to see Stellar Story proving too strong in the finish for Dancing City and the exciting Better Days Ahead.

Current odds:

• Dancing City 5/2
• Stellar Story 3/1
• Better Days Ahead 6/1
• Lecky Watson 8/1
• High Class Hero 17/2
• 16/1 bar

Bet on Stellar Story to win the Grade 1 Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle

Punchestown 4:50 – Grade 1 Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion Bumper

This is normally a race that I stay away from, but there is one horse here that I think holds a lot of value at his current price, and that is ROMEO COOLIO.

Having come with a lot of hype before his first run for Gordon Elliott, he was less than impressive when winning first time up.

He left that run well behind, and defied a massive market drift in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival to finish 2nd beaten 1¼ lengths by current favourite Jasmin De Vaux who came on his blindside to beat him.

There was a lot to like about that performance that gives me a lot of confidence that he can turn the form around here.

Current odds:

• Jasmin De Vaux 13/8
• Romeo Coolio 4/1
• William Munny 9/2
• Harbour Highway 10/1
• Redemption Day 14/1
• Shuttle Diplomacy 14/1
• 25/1 bar.

Bet on Romeo Coolio to win the Grade 1 Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion Bumper

Punchestown 6:00 – 2m4½f  Grade 3 HSS Hire Handicap Chase

I end day two betting tips in an ultra-competitive handicap chase, but one that stands out to me is the lightly raced 10yo, IDAS BOY.

When betting on a handicap chase, you would usually look for the young horses with the potential to be better than their current mark, but Idas Boys’ record 2111 after a break speaks for itself.

He started the season off with a convincing with at this very course over a furling further to beat Mars Harper with ease. On the back of that, he took a fall at 3rd when contesting the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Christmas in Leopardstown.

It seems that this has been the plan since, and given his record after a break I am expecting a huge run from one of the few jump horses in training with Noel Meade.

One that could give him most to do is Seddon who runs for the first time after his 3rd in the American Grand National. If he is ready to roll after his break, he could run a huge race.

Current odds:

• James Du Berlais 3/1
• The Goffer 11/2
• Idas Boy 7/1
• Bill Baxter 8/1
• Jetoile 8/1
• Lets Go Champ 12/1
• Seddon 12/1
• Watch House Cross 12/1
• 14/1 bar.

Bet on Idas Boy to win the Grade 3 HSS Hire Handicap Chase

About the author

Andrew Halligan

My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.

You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).

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