Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Better Days Ahead for the Rambler

William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty looks ahead to the first two days of the Punchestown Festival and picks out his best bets.

Punchestown, Tuesday

The first of three Grade 1s on the opening day is the Champion Novice Hurdle (3:40pm). Slade Steel put in a good performance to win the Supreme at Cheltenham. That did come on soft ground though, and with the going set to be a bit quicker at Punchestown, I do just wonder if he benefits from soft ground turning races into more of a stamina test over this trip. I think MYSTICAL POWER was found out on the ground at Cheltenham but went on to put in a stronger performance at Aintree. You could argue that he has improved with every run and it’s very interesting that Willie Mullins and JP McManus are bringing him back to Punchestown after running at Cheltenham and Aintree. I think he’s still on the up and the prospect of better ground might see him reverse the Cheltenham placings with Slade Steel.

One that catches the eye at a fancy price is Asian Master. He was only beaten five lengths behind Slade Steel in the Supreme and he’s a huge price on that form. He’s ridden by Tom Costello, who is a very good rider, and I think he could be an each-way alternative.

Next up is the William Hill Champion Chase (5:25pm). DINOBLUE got beaten at Cheltenham last time, but I think two and a half miles on soft ground wasn’t ideal for her. She is probably at her best over this trip of two miles and should be hard to beat. Lots went in Captain Guinness’ favour when he won the Champion Chase at the Festival, and while he’s worth respecting on that form, Dinoblue does look to have the beating of him on their two previous runs. Banbridge could be a bigger danger in first-time cheekpieces. Better ground should suit him and although he’s probably better over more of a trip, the likelihood of lots of pace should help him.

SPILLANE’S TOWER is the one I like in the Champion Novice Chase (6:00pm), being a horse I think is on the up. He was beaten over two miles on his penultimate start by Blood Destiny but he then stayed on well when upped in trip to win in Grade 1 company in Fairyhouse. I think he’s going to love this new trip of 3m1f and he comes here a fresh horse having not travelled over to England this spring. Embassy Gardens could be the main danger – he disappointed in the National Hunt Chase but was very impressive in his two chase starts prior to that.

Punchestown, Wednesday

Dancing City was a good winner at Aintree having been third behind Stellar Story in the Albert Bartlett and they reoppose in the three-mile Grade 1 Novice Hurdle (4:15pm). For me, both of them look like dour stayers and the horse I like against them is BETTER DAYS AHEAD, who put in a good performance to win the Martin Pipe at the Festival. This step up in trip should bring about more improvement and he offers more value than the front two in the market.

I’m a ROMEO COOLIO fan, so I’ll stick with him in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper (4:50pm). He ran a great race when second on soft ground in Cheltenham and I think the potential for better ground is going to play to his strengths. If that’s the case, then he could well reverse form with Jasmine De Vaux.

The Punchestown Gold Cup (5:25pm) looks a brilliant race. Galopin Des Champs has carried all before him this season. He did get beaten by Fastorslow in this race last year, but I feel that’s because he was a seven-year-old, whereas he’s a year older this time and as a result is more likely to have bounced back from his Gold Cup run last time out. He is the one to beat and Fastorslow, given that he is better going right-handed, looks his main danger again. As an each-way play though, I’d side with CORACH RAMBLER. He was third in the Gold Cup on his first run for 111 days and it was felt he would improve for that, but he obviously didn’t get to show his wellbeing when unseating Derek Fox at the first in the Grand National. However, that means he comes here a relatively fresh horse with the potential to improve on his Gold Cup run, so he could be an each-way play or the one to chase home the two hotpots. Galopin Des Champs is the one they all have to beat, though.

The following Grade 3 handicap (6:00pm) is competitive but the one I’d side with is JAMES DU BERLAIS. He was probably unlucky to be beaten in the Topham where he jumped and travelled too well and got to the front earlier than was ideal. He’s got some good form in big handicaps this season and on his form from last time, he looks the one to beat.