Forecast odds: 7-1
Should star mare Honeysuckle be off her A-game the high-class Sharjah could pick up the pieces at what is a slightly insulting price given his ability.
Sharjah: top-class performer should outrun his odds once again
Patrick McCann
The eight-year-old is a three-time Matheson Hurdle winner, Galway Hurdle hero and has finished second in the Champion Hurdle for the past two years, but has strong course-and-distance form too having beaten Faugheen comprehensively in the 2018 Morgiana Hurdle.
Despite finishing ahead of Epatante and Goshen at Cheltenham last month, they are preferred toSharjah inthe betting despite having more questions to answer. Should the race fall apart, the fast-finisher could use his trademark turn of foot to give Willie Mullins a record-extending ninth win.
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.
Punchestown Wednesday preview: Donn McClean tips
By Donn McClean
17:52 · WED April 28, 2021
Our man hit the bookies with his Colreevy tip on day one of the Punchestown Festival and he has two selections for the day two card.
Punchestown Wednesday best bets:
TELMESOMETHINGGIRL - 5.20 Punchestown
Minella Indo will be missed for sure from this afternoon’s Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup – you’re always going to miss the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner – but it’s still a star-studded line-up. The Cheltenham Gold Cup winner of 2019 and 2020, the King George winner of 2019 and Betway Bowl winner of 2021, the Punchestown Gold Cup winner of 2019 and Irish Gold Cup winner of 2021, the Melling Chase winner of 2021.