PUNCHESTOWN TIPS: All the best bets for Day 3 - Thursday, April 27

Another day of horse-racing action awaits as we pass the half-way mark of the Punchestown Festival. Yesterday, we saw the unbackable Gallopin Des Champs beaten by locally-trained Fastorslow as he took the Punchestown Gold Cup. 

Eight races are coming up today, all promising to be riveting and highly competitive on day three of the Festival. Scattered showers are predicted throughout the day, suiting some runners and not others. 

With approximately 20,000 people in attendance on the first day of the Festival, it truly kicked off in style. The attendance is growing for the third of the five day races. 

Gates open at 1pm to the public, with the first race kicking off at 3:40pm. The eight races throughout the day will take place, roughly, 30 minutes apart. 

The conditions on the track have changed for day three with the course now Good to Yielding. We have previewed day three with a race by race guide. The action gets underway at 3.40pm with the last race at 7.45pm.

3.40pm Handicap Hurdle (2m)

This race features a 23-runner field with plenty of potential winners on the card. Broomfiled Bijou comes into the race off the back of a win in Ballinrobe on April 14 while Feu Du Bresil won on April 6 down in Clonmel. Expecting a Dempsey father-and-son combination to win the opener on day 3.

Prediction: Broomfield Bijou

4.15pm Handicap Chase (2m)

Douglas Talking heads the market this morning with a price of 3/1 having come second on his last run at Aintree exactly two weeks ago. Gordon Elliott has two horses capable of good runs in the each-way market. Call Me Lyreen and Hollow Games should run solid races.

Prediction: Douglas Talking

4.50pm Cross Country Chase (4m2f)

Stealthy Tom will pit himself against Vital Island in the Cross Country Chase with Vital Island finishing second on Tuesday in the Ladies Cup. This will be a gruelling test of stamina with 35 fences for the horses to jump. Predicting Stealthy Tom to win having won in Punchestown during the February meeting.

Prediction: Stealthy Tom

5.25pm Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1) (2m 7 ½ f)

Like most Grade 1s, this one will be a contest between Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott with the winner scooping €177,000. Klassical Dream will be hoping to become a three-timer in this race with Teahupoo proving Elliott’s main contender. Sire Du Berlais comes into the race with wins at Cheltenham and Aintree, could be an outside bet. 

Prediction: Klassical Dream

6.00pm Handicap Hurdle (2m 7 ½ f)

This race features a field of 25 horses with the result unpredictable to say the least. Lord Snootie trained by Christian Williams is the best bet as Williams has a pedigree of training good stayers so he’ll be hopeful of taking the win.

Prediction: Lord Snootie 

6.35pm Novice Chase (Grade 1) (2m)

El Fabiolo for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins comes into this race unbeaten over fences and providing he’s granted a clear round of jumping, he should take yet another Grade 1 for the deadly duo.

Prediction: El Fabiolo

7.10pm Mares Handicap Chase (2m5f)

This race has an open look to it with Lilith and Western Zara looking to dominate once more. Lilith beat Western Zara in last year’s running of the race. Kalli’s Quest for Terence O’Brien looks a good bet for the places.

Prediction: Lilith

7.45pm Flat Race (2m)

The final race of day three sees Ballyburn favourite under Paddy and Willie Mullins while Slade Steel for Henry De Bromhead won in Punchestown in December so is worth a gamble.

Prediction: Slade Steel