Punchestown Festival day three | Klassical Dream & Energumene star in Willie Mullins 299/1 five-timer
By Sporting Life
20:13 · THU April 29, 2021
A review of all the action from day three of the Punchestown Festival as Energumene and Klassical Dream starred in a Willie Mullins-trained five-timer.
Energumene among five for Mullins
Energumene claimed his second Grade One triumph with a smooth performance from the front in the Ryanair Novice Chase.
Paul Townend enjoyed something of an armchair ride on the 2/5 favourite, who was last seen winning the Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival, before missing the Sporting Life Arkle at Cheltenham due to a late setback.
Captain Guinness, 13 lengths behind Shishkin when third in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham last month, was at least 20 lengths adrift when he unseated Rachael Blackmore at the final fence, and Energumene crossed the line 16 lengths in front of Janadil without being asked a serious question.
“He’s class, it’s an absolute privilege to ride him,” Townend said. “To get that feeling over two miles in chases twice in one week [after winning on Chacun Pour Soi on Tuesday] is like Christmas coming again. He’s entitled to go over and take everything on [next season]. They [Energumene and Shishkin] are going to meet at some stage and it will be a cracking spectacle.”
Tips for this evening s races at the Punchestown Festival
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I think
ENTOUCAS (4/1) will win this. He was looking good to win the Grand Annual at Cheltenham before for a mistake two fences from home. He plugged away to finish second to Sky Pirate and can correct the record today.
HARRIE (28/1) is a big-price runner here for Willie Mullins who will be ridden prominently and is interesting for eachway terms.
16:50 - Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase
BALLYBOKER BRIDGE (10/1) is a nice price and admirably consistent around Punchestown. The one blot on his Punchestown copybook came in February when he was pulled up in a race won by Shady Operator but before that he had a great record. He won this race in 2019 and lost little in two defeats to Neverrushacon last year. He would have had quite a few of these behind him on those occasions, including the second favourite Some Neck last November. He should be primed for this now and comes here fres
Punchestown Saturday preview: Donn McClean tips
By Donn McClean
Punchestown Friday best bets:
5.05 Drop The Anchor
The Willie Mullins thread that usually runs through Punchestown week is running as deeply as ever this year so far, and it could go even deeper today, on the final day of the week, the final day of the Irish National Hunt season.
In Concertista, Stormy Ireland and Burning Victory, the champion trainer fields the first three favourites for the Coolmore Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle, with My Sister Sarah in there as back-up, while in the other Grade 1 race on the day, the Ballymore Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle, Haut En Couleurs is vying for favouritism with Triumph Hurdle hero Quilixios. The record of 18 that was posted at the 2018 Festival is in danger.