3.40pm - Grade 1 KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle
This is a little belter of a race to kickstart the Grade 1 action at the Punchestown Festival on Tuesday, where we get to see the winner and runner-up of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle do battle once again, and although Slade Steel got the better of Mystical Power at Cheltenham, and does ultimately come into Punchestown fresher, I think Mystical Power can reverse the Supreme form.
Mystical Power was still learning on the job in the Supreme, which was just his fourth ever visit to the racecourse, and in fact he was still probably learning on the job at Aintree last time. The son of Annie Power has come on in leaps and bounds with each run, and Willie Mullins has worked wonders with this horse, getting him to place at a Cheltenham Festival as well as winning a Grade 1 with him.
Now the Supreme effort as well as the Grade 1 Top Novices Hurdle win at Aintree last time does suggest he does not do an ounce when getting to the front, so he has to be ridden to perfection, and the ride has to be timed perfectly. Mark Walsh seemed a shade disappointed with himself at Cheltenham as he got Mystical Power to the front a little too soon, which is the reason Slade Steel outbattled him that day going up the Cheltenham Hill.
Walsh's mount did show that again slightly last time at Aintree, but he still ran on well to beat Firefox by half a length in the end, despite #idling in the closing stages. This slightly easier track compared to Cheltenham should enhance Mystical Power's chances of beating Slade Steel, who I feel is a horse who is crying out for a step up in trip very soon.
I firmly feel the Supreme form could be reversed on Tuesday, providing there are no issues with Mystical Power just 18 days after his Aintree victory. The better ground should suit him, so I just hope the rain stays away between now and the race.
- Selection - Mystical Power (9/4)
4.15pm - Listed Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle
A very competitive contest with 25 runners set to head to post, and fair play to Ben Pauling, Charlie Longsdon and Harry Derham for sending a few over for this contest, and although this race has been dominated by the Irish in recent years, any UK horses that go over for this meeting in general, especially the Handicaps tend to run very well.
However, I think that trend will continue here, as I have sided with an Irish runner, and the horse is trained by the recent conqueror of the UK in Willie Mullins, who has three runners in this race, in which all of them are top four in the betting.
Rath Gaul Boy only ran eight days ago at Ffos Las where he was sent over during Willie Mullins' conquest of the UK, and yes, he was sent off the firm odds-on favourite, but he could not have won any easier if he tried, with a textbook Patrick Mullins ride, travelling strongly in behind before striding clear in the closing stages, not needed to get serious with this horse whatsoever.
He has been given an opening mark of 135 for this his handicap debut, and granted it did take him a little while to get off the mark, but he finally did and has won his last two contests. In time they might ultimately look to be egg and spoon races, but he won the pair of them in splendid fashion, and I feel he is now starting to get his act together here, and this opening mark of 135 could very much underestimate his abilities.
Danny Mullins is booked up to ride him, as Paul Townend has decided to ride Daddy Long Legs, but I feel Danny has got it the better of things here as he is set to ride the more experienced, older horse in Rath Gaul Boy.
- Selection - Rath Gaul Boy (11/1)
5.25pm - Grade 1 William Hill Champion Chase
No El Fabiolo or Jonbon heading over for this, as they had their eagerly awaited battle in the Grade 1 Celebration Chase at Sandown over the weekend, which was an excellent performance from Jonbon who was pretty much a perfect 10 out of 10 that day.
However, with those two obviously not running just a few days later, that leaves the door open for another horse to land this Grade 1 prize over the 2-mile trip here on Tuesday. This contest is a little bit of a tricky one, as there is no real standout performer, and although we have the Champion Chase winner Captain Guinness in the field, that race was pretty much handed to him when El Fabiolo pulled up, although he still won nicely in the end.
With that in mind, I am going for a slightly rogue shout here in the form of Ash Tree Meadow, who does hold a 54% win strike rate with six wins in just 11 runs over fences, and he has come on in leaps and bounds with each passing run over the larger obstacles, landing the Galway Plate back in August off the mark of 145.
Since then he has gone on to win twice more, both of which were in Grade 2 company, earning him a new career-high mark of 159 heading into this, which is 1lb higher than Dinoblue as well as only being 5lbs lower than recent Champion Chase winner Captain Guinness.
This trip could ultimately be a little on the sharp side for him (as all of his recent chase wins have been over further) but if was to pop along in front like he did when winning the Webster Cup last time, then the stamina might kick in and he could be the one they all have to catch.
Ultimately, he is not far off these in terms of official ratings, and although this would need by far a career best, he does arrive into the contest fresh from a 59-day break, suggesting that this must have been the his connections’ plan for a while.
I think we could see a little turn-up for the books in this, and hopefully jockey Sam Ewing and trainer Gordon Elliott can spring that surprise with Ash Tree Meadow here. Ewing recently won his first career Grade 1 when guiding Stellar Story to victory in the Albert Bartlett for Elliott, so he knows what it takes to win Grade 1 contests on a horse at a big price.
- Selection - Ash Tree Meadow (22/1)
6.00pm - Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase
I really like the look of this contest, and although these might not be Grade 1 horses (at least, not yet) they are young chasers who could become potential Gold Cup horses in the future.
Monalee was a top-class Grade 1 horse, and his half-brother Monty's Star is looking to back up that Grade 1 runner-up at the Cheltenham Festival last time, seven weeks or so ago. The Henry De Bromhead horse has only had three chase runs so far, which includes a third behind Corbett's Cross on chase debut, before going on to win his first chase at Punchestown by 5 and a half lengths.
It was his effort last time that really caught the eye, as he jumped well and kept on superbly all the way to the line behind Fact To File in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Chase. If he can re-produce an effort like that, then he is definitely the one they all have to beat in this, as that could be real Grade 1 form in time to come.
Fact To File really does look like a Gold Cup horse for the future., which suggest that Monty's Star should be landing this, before going onto bigger and better things himself next season.
- Selection - Monty's Star (5/2)
All prices are from Planet Sport Bet and are subject to change
All previews and tips provided by @ Jake Russell