Jamie Clark was Sports Editor of Coral bookmakers between 2014 and 2017 during their merger with Labrokes and a key period for the British betting industry. Working as a bookie’s runner on the point to point circuit in the Midlands and at Market Rasen Racecourse where his late godfather had a trackside pitch growing up, he has had ties to horse racing all of his life. A regular visitor to Cheltenham during the National Hunt season and York over the summer, he has been involved in Horsebetting.com since its inception. Jamie now brings you his take on major news stories from the racing world and those all-important betting tips.
Hero from two years ago can win Punchestown feature again
The big staying chase and feature race of Punchestown Festival Wednesday is the extended 3m Punchestown Gold Cup (17:55). Irish Gold Cup winner Kemboy took this two years ago and looks value to land the spoils again. One of four in the race trained by Willie Mullins, the nine-year-old appreciates sound surfaces.
It’s wiser to put a line through his Cheltenham form, as Kemboy has never really acted on the track. His second in the Savills Chase to A Plus Tard, who chased home intended Punchestown Gold Cup runner Minella Indo last month, reads well here. Henry De Bromhead’s charge misses the race, however, due to a bruised foot.
This meeting has not been kind to Al Boum Photo, who was only third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Kemboy looks overpriced in relation to his old rival on their 2019 meeting over course and distance. These are deeper waters for British raider Clan Des Obeaux too, for all trainer Paul Nicholls has won the race before.
Kemboy, who beat Grade 1 winning chaser The Storyteller in the Irish Gold Cup, looks the value bet at 4/1 with Betfair here. Clan Des Obeaux could be the biggest danger ahead of Al Boum Photo, while the likes of Melon and Fakir D’Oudairies may not get the trip.
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Kilcruit the Champion Bumper bet on Punchestown Festival Wednesday
The Irish Champion Bumper follows (18:30), and Kilcruit could reverse Cheltenham placings with stable companion Sir Gerhard. Even the ante-post betting would have you believe this is a two-horse race. I have a soft spot for Eric Bloodaxe, whose early form in Irish National Hunt Flat races reads very well.
However, the Joseph O’Brien runner has had over 450 days off the track with injury. I’ll be backing him each-way at 16/1 with Betfair on the potential from last season. Eric Bloodaxe could well need the run, especially against these rivals. With no obvious reason why those in-behind Sir Gerhard and Kilcruit can land a blow, from a tipping perspective it’s only them who enter the equation.
Far be it from me to criticise Paul Townend, but he gave Kilcruit too much to do at Cheltenham. The fact that trainer Willie Mullins now gives son Patrick the leg-up on Sir Gerhard suggests they believe he is the number one for the stable.
Kilcruit was closing all the way to the line at Cheltenham, and there is just half-a-length between them. Derek O’Connor now takes the ride, but the 11/8 with 888sport looks slightly better value than siding with the Cheveley Park Stud owned Sir Gerhard.
Telmesomethinggirl solid Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle each-way value
Earlier on the Punchestown Festival Wednesday card is the 3m Grade 1 Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle (17:20). Telmsomethinggirl is bred for this trip, so goes markedly up in distance for De Bromhead. This six-year-old mare has a fine record on the forecast ground and took her form to a whole new level at Cheltenham last time out.
Telmesomethinggirl was a ready winner of the Grade 2 Dawn Run against her fellow mares. As she is by Stowaway, stamina should not be an issue. Getting the trip is also much easier on the sounder surface she gets here. There are some question marks over some of her rivals here too, who must all give her weight.
Stattler hasn’t shaped as a stayer for me on his last two starts. Galopin Des Champs took the Martin Pipe in style at Cheltenham, but the fact he’s rated the same as Albert Bartlett hero Vanillier after winning a handicap seems dubious from the assessor. Streets Of Doyen likes this ground, but didn’t fare any better at Aintree last time out.
There might be greater substance to the form of Telmesomethinggirl, especially her third in the Paddy Mullins Mares’ Handicap Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. Both the winner and fourth home have come out and landed valuable races at the spring festivals. Under Rachael Blackmore, Telmesomethinggirl looks a great each-way bet at 13/2 with Boylesports now taking on the geldings.
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