Racing tips for Day 2 of Punchestown Festival as things start to heat up

After a thrilling opening day that saw Ascending Lark land a gamble at 8/1 and Irancy shock the big guns in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle at 18/1, there’s plenty of momentum heading into Day Two, where the big race is the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup at 5.30pm.

Captain Guinness also rewarded those following names with second at 28/1 in the William Hill Champion Chase on Day one.

The second day features another stacked eight-race card starting at 2.30pm. The ground remains yielding. Here’s a race-by-race guide below, and you can find more tips at Irishracing.com.

2.30pm Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle (2m3½f)

A wide-open start to Day Two. Birmingham Alabama comes into this race having run twice in Punchestown already this year, was first past the post over the same distance on January 13.

Prediction: Birmingham Alabama E/W

3.05pm Connolly's Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final (2m3½f)

The Gavin Cromwell-trained Champagne Jury goes off as favourite in this race and rightly so. Has the form to back up its favourite tag. Finished second to Honesty Policy at Leopardstown in March, with Honesty Policy going on to record Grade 1 success at the Aintree Festival.

Prediction: Champagne Jury

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3.40pm Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle (2m3½f)

This race looks set to be a battle between Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott. The favourite Got Glory hasn’t finished in its last three runs, fell twice and pulled up. American Mike has the potential for a great run for Elliott.

Prediction: American Mike

4.15pm Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle (Grade 1, 3m)

Like the previous race, the first Grade 1 of Wednesday’s racing sees Mullins and Elliott go toe-to-toe. Elliott’s Honesty Policy comes to Punchestown having won its last three races, including the Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) at Aintree. Their likely competitor will be the favourite Jasmin De Vaux ridden by Paul Townend, a Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) winner at Cheltenham.

Prediction: Honesty Policy

4.50pm Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion INH Flat Race (Grade 1, 2m½f)

Colcannon and Bambino Fever both come into this race in savage form. The latter has a 100% record with four wins from four starts. A winner at Cheltenham in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race) (Grade 1), winner at the Dublin Racing Festival as well as at Punchestown on New Year's Eve.

Colcannon also won at the Dublin Racing Festival, so it’s set up for an intriguing battle.

Prediction: Bambino Fever

5.30pm Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Chase) (Grade 1, 3m1f)

All eyes will be on the Punchestown Gold Cup to see if Galopin Des Champs can finally get a victory at the County Kildare racecourse. Finished second in this race last year to Fastorslow before also finishing second in this year’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) when aiming to win a third Cheltenham Gold Cup in a row.

Won a third consecutive Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February. Spillane’s Tower looks to be his closest challenger in the four-horse race, although it hasn’t run since finishing fifth in the King George on St Stephen’s Day.

Prediction: Galopin Des Champs

6.05pm Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase (Grade 3, 2m4½f)

Lightkeeper for Jordan Gainford and Gordon Elliott looks to have the form to suggest that it will be first past the post in this Handicap Chase. Has won its last two races at Wexford and Down Royal. Kiltealy Park finished second to him at Wexford in April and subsequently went on to win the BoyleSports Mares Handicap Chase (Listed Race) at Fairyhouse two weeks later.

Blue Lord looks like his main threat.

Prediction: Lightkeeper

6.35pm Weatherbys General Stud Book Irish EBF Mares INH Flat Race (Grade 3, 2m½f)

Seo Linn will go off as favourite for the final race of Day Two. Has a record of 3 wins from his five starts. Won a Grade 2 contest at Aintree in April while also winning at Cheltenham’s November meeting on its last two runs.

Prediction: Seo Linn