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The Champion Stayers Hurdle is the feature on the third day of the 2022 Punchestown Festival as last year’s winner Klassical Dream attempts to bounce back from a poor performance in the Cheltenham equivalent.
Sire Du Berlais appears to be the main competition in Thursday’s 5.25pm after getting the better of Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle hero Flooring Porter at Aintree earlier this month, while Paisley Park is the sole representative for Britain.
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The other Grade 1 is the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase as Maghull Novices’ Chase winner Gentleman De Mee goes for a fourth win on the spin after being Arkle hero Edwardstone at Aintree last time out.
Elsewhere on the card, a whole host of cross country regulars like Tout Est Permis and Shady Operator slug it out for the La Touche Cup, while hat-trick seeker Mt Leinster carries 11st 11lbs in the Grade B Pigsback.com Handicap Chase.
All the details you could possibly need about Thursday’s races at Punchestown are available on our snazzy Racecards page including the runners and riders, weights, odds and horse-by-horse analysis.
Punchestown Day 3 Tips
- Horse Racing Tips: 8 Mick Fitzgerald rates for Punchestown on Thursday
- Horse Racing Tips: Ruby Walsh’s Punchestown cheat sheet for Thursday
Uncle Paddy will be live streaming all of today’s racing at Punchestown on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app. You don’t even have to place a bet on a race to tune in!
If you’re eager to see whether your punt has placed then you’ll be able to catch all of the Punchestown results in a flash on our Fast Results page.
You can head over to the Racecards tab at the top of page now to start swotting up on Thursday’s renewals, otherwise, you’ll find the race times and tips for day three of the 2022 Punchestown Festival below.
15:40: Specialist Joinery Group Handicap Hurdle
GIN COCO looked an improved model and made light of a 17-month absence with ease when scoring on yard debut at Fontwell back in March. It’s interesting connections pitch him in here on handicap debut, and with further progress distinctly possible, he can make another bold bid. Recent Fairyhouse scorer Ideal Pal, Luke Short and Hide And Seek are others fancied to be firmly in the mix.
16:15: Pigsback.com Handicap Chase (Grade B)
GLOBAL CITIZEN dispelled any doubts as to whether he would be effective at a testing 2m on such a stiff track when scoring with a bit up his sleeve in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival last month. Racing from just a 5 lb higher mark here, Ben Pauling’s charge gets the verdict to notch a third success over the larger obstacles. Grange Walk almost certainly would’ve beaten Mt Leinster at Fairyhouse 11 days ago and that pair rate as the main dangers to the selection here.
16:50: Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase
NEVERUSHACON tends to go well on the cross-country track at Punchestown and was far from discredited in what was likely a prep’ run at Wexford last time, so he gets the nod ahead of Shady Operator, who regularly runs well in these events. Potters Corner is also considered for a shrewd British yard.
17:25: Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1)
KLASSICAL DREAM has had a light campaign so there ought to be still some mileage in the tank and he can win this race for a second year running. Sire du Berlais is sure to make his presence felt if turning up in similar form to Aintree, while Concertista makes some appeal back over hurdles given she’s unexposed at this trip.
18:00: Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)
MACS CHARM has improved at a rate of knots in handicaps and with this step up in trip likely to draw out further improvement, his winning sequence may about to be extended. As you would expect there are a host of potential dangers, headed by City Chief and Maze Runner.
18:35: Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1)
Willie Mullins has bagged the last six runnings of this Grade One novice chase and his fast improving GENTLEMAN DE MEE looks very much the one to beat on the back of his emphatic success over Arkle hero Edwardstone at Aintree. Stablemate Blue Lord appeals as the one to chase him home ahead of Arkle runner-up Gabynako.
19:10: Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares’ Handicap Chase
DEJA VUE could do with brushing up her jumping, but she looks on a fair mark back in a handicap so could be worth chancing for her in-form yard. Hurricane Georgie took a big step forward when just failing in a listed chase at Fairyhouse and is another to consider along with the selection’s stablemate Lilith, who won well at Newbury 8 weeks ago.
19:45: JP & M Doyle Celebrating 70 Years In Business (C & G) Flat Race
On the back of an excellent third in the Champion Bumper, JAMES’S GATE makes obvious appeal back at the scene of his emphatic debut win. Music Drive and Sir Jimmy Mac look the best of the remainder but, in truth, the selection will have to fluff his lines if he’s to be overturned.
Read More
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest racing tips
- Champion Stayers Hurdle tips and runner-by-runner guide to Thursday’s 5.25 at Punchestown
- Win Paddy Power free bets in our Punchestown Festival 2022 predictor game
- When is the Punchestown Festival 2022? Dates, race times and schedule
- When is the 2000 Guineas? 2022 date, start time and betting for Newmarket race
- When is the 2023 Cheltenham Festival? Next year’s dates for your diary
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