Barry Geraghty: Galopin Des Champs a more than worthy Punchestown Gold Cup fav

William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty looks ahead to day two of the Punchestown Festival, highlighted by Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame’s highly anticipated rematch in the Punchestown Gold Cup.

Punchestown Gold Cup

It looks as if we’ll get the eagerly anticipated rematch in the Punchestown Gold Cup (5.55pm) between GALOPIN DES CHAMPS and Bravemansgame. The track here could suit Bravemansgame better and it’s not as competitive as the race in Cheltenham, so there are definitely reasons to say he’ll get closer to Galopin Des Champs.

However, there’s plenty to suggest those two factors will play to Galopin Des Champs’ strengths too. He won a John Durkan over 2m4f back here in December, so he has plenty of pace and in all honesty I think he’ll be very hard to beat. I would also be a touch worried for Bravemansgame that Aintree was obviously the main target so he would have been cherry ripe for that, and he might not quite be a week or so later.

The two of them look the standout contenders, though. It was brilliant to see Envoi Allen win again at Cheltenham but I’m not sure the form of that Ryanair is all that strong, particularly as Shishkin wasn’t at his best.

Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle

I’m very much in GAELIC WARRIOR’s camp in the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (5.20pm). He’s much better going right-handed as he does jump to his right, so Punchestown should suit him well. He steps up to three miles for the first time, but I don’t see that as being a problem and the form of his second to Impaire Et Passe in the Ballymore is by far the strongest on offer here.

That was his only defeat this season and I think he’ll be very hard to beat.

Of the opposition, I’d fancy Salvador Ziggy to follow him home. He ran a great race to finish second in the Pertemps and is progressive, but I’m not sure he has the ability to trouble Gaelic Warrior.

Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final

I would have fancied SANDOR CLEGANE to give Gaelic Warrior a race if he’d taken him on, so I’ll be hoping he can get the job done in the Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final (4.15pm).

He was dropped in at Cheltenham in the Albert Bartlett and he had a wide passage through the race. He was probably the horse that if it was run again and he was ridden a bit more prominently, he would have been the likely winner. He has some good solid form, including when third to Good Land at the Dublin Racing Festival, and I make him the one to beat back down in trip.

Three Card Brag ran well in the Albert Bartlett but I don’t see any reason why he’ll turn the tables here.

Champion I.N.H. Flat Race

It was hard not to be impressed by A DREAM TO SHARE in the Champion Bumper and he looks a solid favourite in the Champion I.N.H. Flat Race (6.30pm).

The ground was on the soft side at Cheltenham, so it was a performance that can be marked up as he looks a horse who will be better on good ground, and he should get that at Punchestown. John Kiely is a brilliant trainer and I don’t know many who are better at getting one ready for the big day, so I found it hard it find a chink in his contender’s armour.

It’s For Me might be the one to follow him home. He has over five lengths to make up from their runs in Cheltenham, but he was ridden from well off the pace by Paul Townend that day and he might be able to get a bit closer this time, especially if he can settle better.

Other races at Punchestown

I see HA D’OR has been well-backed for the handicap chase (7.05pm) and I can see why. He was well beaten by El Fabiolo in the Arkle, but this is a big step down in grade and going up to 2m5f should suit. It’s obviously a very competitive handicap, but I thought he might have the most potential and a mark of 140 looks workable.

If the rain stays away, keep an eye on UNANSWERED in the opening handicap hurdle (3.40pm). He won at Cheltenham in November on good ground and he could still be well-handicapped if running to that sort of form again.