PUNCHESTOWN TIPS: All the best bets for Day 3 - Thursday, May 1

Galopin Des Champs stole the show with a dominant 22-length victory in the Punchestown Gold Cup, lighting up Day Two of the Festival.

Thursday’s action promises more excitement, with an eight-race card set to unfold in the sunshine. Racing begins at 2.30pm and wraps up at 6.35pm, featuring two Grade 1 contests.

2.30pm Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle (2m½f )

The opening race of Day Three of the Punchestown Festival will see 21 runners go to post.

The Other Mozzie for Keith Donoghue and Gavin Cromwell comes into the race having won last time out at Ayr. Was seventh in a Grade 2 contest at Cheltenham in March. Currently holds a record of three wins in five races over fences. Turn And Finish likely to be in with a shout too for Paul O’Brien and Harry Derham.

Prediction: The Other Mozzie

3.05pm Frontline Security Handicap Chase (Listed Race, 2m½f)

Jasko Des Dames is a course and distance winner, having won at the track in November 2024. Finished fifth at Cheltenham, but would have probably finished higher had it not made a mistake at the second last.

Prediction: Jasko Des Dames

3.40pm (Bank) Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase (4m1f)

Vanillier will be the one to watch in the Cross Country Chase. Finished 14th in the Grand National at Aintree, but had finished third at Cheltenham before previously winning at Punchestown in the Ladbrokes P.P. Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase in February of this year. Gordon Elliott’s The Goffer could also run well, finished third at Aintree and fourth at Cheltenham. It came fifth in February when Vanillier won.

Prediction: Vanillier

4.15pm Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race, 2m7½f)

This might be a race where the winner could come from anywhere. The joint-favourites are currently 6/1 for this 22-runner field. Beckett Rock for Rachel Blackmore and Henry De Bromhead finished sixth in the Coral Cup, on only its sixth start. Moonbeg Park has won at the course before and has a decent record for those looking for an each-way bet.

Prediction: Beckett Rock (Win). Moonbeg Rock (E/W)

4.50pm Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed Race, 2m½f)

Sixandahalf is odds-on favourite to win for the ride of Keith Donoghue and trainer Gavin Cromwell. Finished second in the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) at Cheltenham. Timetoshine is looking to make it a fourth win from four over hurdles with victories at Huntingdon, Kempton and Chepstow in 2025.

Prediction: Sixandahalf (Win). Timetoshine (E/W).

5.25pm Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1, 2m½f)

The Willie Mullins-trained Majborough is an unbackable favourite for this race, but that’s providing it cuts out the jumping mistakes it made in the Arkle at Cheltenham. Only By Night finished second ahead of Majborough in March, so will be hoping to beat him and be first past the post this time around.

Prediction: Majborough and Only By Night (Reverse Forecast)

6pm Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m7½f)

Teahupoo comes into this race as the favourite fresh from a second-place finish at Cheltenham. Will be looking to make it two successive wins in this race, a win which secured a hat-trick of Grade 1’s in 2024. Has only ran twice since finishing second to Lossiemouth in Fairyhouse in December and the aforementioned second to Bob Olinger.

Prediction: Teahupoo

6.35pm JP & M Doyle (C & G) INH Flat Race (2m½f)

The final race of Day Three is a flat race where Ksar Fatal will head the betting for father and son, Willie and Patrick Mullins. Looking to make a third win in three runs, won a point-to-point in October 2024 before doing likewise in Gowran Park in March.

Prediction: Ksar Fatal (Win). He Can't Dance (E/W)