Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Punchestown Festival Day Three selections

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan is here to preview Day Three of the Punchestown Festival.

Punchestown, Thursday

In the opener, the handicap hurdle over two miles (2:30pm), I like The Other Mozzie. I think he is well handicapped, given his rating of 145 over fences, but he runs here off 119 over hurdles. I believe he will appreciate the quicker ground, and whilst he was no match for Caldwell Potter at Cheltenham, I think he will improve for drying conditions. Top-weight won’t stop him, and the services of Keith Donoghue on board will be a great asset.

The handicap chase over two miles (3:05pm) is a tricky affair. We’ve seen UK winners across Days One and Two at the Punchestown Festival, and I think we’ll see another here. I like Keep Running for Warren Greatrex and champion jockey Sean Bowen. He was last seen in February finishing behind Bad at Kempton, and the drying ground will suit him. He’s a forward-running horse, which will suit a field of this size. The Irish handicapper has given him a chance, dropping him two pounds to a mark of 127, and I expect him to be hard to catch here.

In the three-mile handicap hurdle (4:15pm), I’m going with a horse who disappointed last time but I think has more to offer—Flicker Of Hope. He was pulled up in the Albert Bartlett, but his run before that was very promising when finishing third to Perceval Legallois at the Dublin Racing Festival. I think the drop to a mark of 132, with Conor Stone-Walsh’s three-pound claim, is lenient, and he has a great chance. A lot of these have had busy seasons, and I think Flicker Of Hope may have more upside this time around.

The mares’ hurdle (4:50pm) is simple for me—it’s difficult to get away from Sixandahalf. Given her form at Cheltenham, the fact she will like the ground, and that she comes here fresh after skipping Fairyhouse, she stands out. She was robbed of victory at the Festival; I’d expect Keith Donoghue has learnt a few things about her, and I expect her to be played late. Track and trip are ideal—she’s the one to beat.

Similar sentiments to Sixandahalf apply to Majborough in the Grade One Barberstown Novice Chase (5:25). Poor jumping wasn’t a characteristic of his until the Cheltenham Festival, when he absolutely threw his chance away and was still only beaten a length by Jango Baie. He needs to sharpen up his jumping, and if he does, I can see him winning this with ease.

The Champion Stayers Hurdle (6:00pm) is an interesting race given the likely ground conditions. Last year’s winner Teahupoo won’t appreciate the quick ground, neither will Home By The Lee, and I’m not sure that Crambo will relish it either. That said, I think we could get a strange result. Hiddenvalley Lake was good at Aintree, but I’m going for Rocky’s Diamond. He comes here off a promising run behind Bob Olinger in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, and I think he can spring a surprise for Declan Queally. His pedigree suggests he may improve for better ground, and if he does, I think he will be hard to beat here.