Punchestown tips: 20/1 Day 1 treble could line your pockets for the week

Our man has picked out three of the best bets for Day 1 of Punchestown 2024 and the treble could return a handsome sum.

Mystical Power - 3.40pm - 7/4

First up is Mystical Power in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle. The son of former hurdling heroine Annie Power, Mystical Power made up for his runner-up run behind Slade Steel in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham with a fine win at Aintree. That prompted Willie Mullins to mull over the option of bringing him to Punchestown at all. He said “he owes us nothing” for the season. Nevertheless, he's here and will come on strongly from his Liverpool experience. He looked all over the winner at Cheltenham before faltering up the hill. An easier finish here will help.

Slade Steel is in the same race and will be fresher having skipped Liverpool, but the rematch will be a sight to behold for racegoers. He, however lost his last race at Punchestown to Ballyburn, while Mystical Power was last seen here streaking clear of rivals to win the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer in December. It’ll be a tough choice for punters.

Dinoblue - 5.25pm - 11/10

Dinoblue is one of the stars of the Willie Mullins stable but she had her colours lowered by Limerick Lace at Cheltenham. She didn't lose any credit in that race as she finished off her race well but was just outlasted by a stout stayer in muddy conditions. She beat a few of her rivals in Leopardstown over Christmas, including Gentleman De Mee and Captain Guinness. She'll have far better conditions today on good to yielding ground and the main danger could be Banbridge. The more rain arrives before off time, the worse his chances are as proven by his run at Cheltenham where he was tailed off in the Ryanair.

Monty's Star - 6.00pm - 11/4

Monty’s Star bumped into one of the most spectacular winners of the week at Cheltenham in the shape of Fact To File from the Willie Mullins yard in the Brown Advisory. He’ll tackle the same distance at Punchestown in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase but won’t have Fact To File to worry about.

The Henry De Bromhead trained seven-year-old stayed all the way to the line at Cheltenham and was just beaten by a better horse, maybe one of the best staying chasers around at the moment. Monty’s Star also has winning Punchestown form in the book from his Beginner’s Chase win over the talented Three Card Brag on heavy ground in December. He is the horse I’m looking forward to most at Punchestown this year. I think he’ll win.

A treble on these three pays out at 20/1. 

Likely outsiders

For those looking for an eachway flutter on Day 1, Billy Lee Swagger has an outside chance in the 3.05 race at 11/1. His recent run behind Mousey Brown was strong and he meets that rivals on better handicap terms here. He could be in the shake-up.

I think Asian Master is capable of running into a place in the 3.40pm race at 20/1. He was a good fourth in the Supreme a Cheltenham and had some good form prior to that, beating Better Days Ahead by ten lengths at Navan in January. He has plenty of stablemates to beat to make it into the money but he's no forlorn hope.

Lord Erskine is a real outsider in the 4.15pm but may just be could enough to run into a place. He's as big as 40/1 in some places and warmed up for this on the flat at Navan on Saturday. Most recently before that he beat Magical Zoe and Zenta well in a handicap at Leopardstown in February. He runs off a handy weight again today and may spring a surprise.