*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing/Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason, you will lose your stake under traditional antepost rules
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The Ryanair Novice Chase, the Allana Homes Champion Novices Hurdle and the Champion 4 Year Old Hurdle take place at Punchestown from Thursday, April 29 to Saturday, May 1.
Top pundit Ruby Walsh assesses the field on the latest edition of Paddy Power’s From the Horses Mouth podcast, ahead of next week’s showcase Festival that brings the curtain down on the Irish jumps season.
- Check out all the latest Horse Racing tips and previews now
Friday, April 30 – Champion Novices Hurdle
Bob Olinger will go off as favourite in Friday’s feature race – and Ruby can see exactly why. When discussing the Henry De Bromhead-trained gelding, Ruby claimed Gaillard Du Mesnil, Appreciate It and Ashdale Bob won’t be able to get near Bob Olinger if they lined up in the same race.
He said: “It’s all about Bob Olinger here. He looked spectacular at Cheltenham and it was a fairly hot race on paper. How does Gaillard Du Mesnil turn the form of Bob Olinger in this one? I don’t think it’s possible.
“One horse has to grossly underperform for that to happen. I don’t see Galopin Des Champs, Appreciate It or Ashdale Bob getting close to Bob Olinger. This is a one horse race if the real Bob Olinger turns up.”
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Thursday, April 29 – Ryanair Novice Chase
When asked about the Ryanair Novice Chase on the show, the former top jockey turned pundit came down firmly on the side of Willie Mullins’ Energumene to sign off the season with a win at Punchestown and make up for the disappointment of missing Cheltenham.
“This is a great chance for Energumene to round off the season,” Ruby said.
“Energumene probably could have ran at Fairyhouse, but Willie thought he’d keep him for this one. He looks in great form and this track suits him. I’d be all over Energumene here, especially if Shishkin and Envoi Allen don’t run.”
Saturday, May 01 – Champion 4 Year Old Hurdle
Ruby also waded in on the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle on Saturday afternoon. While the pundit talked up Zanahiyr, Ruby wasn’t confident about picking a winner out of the field.
He said: “Haut En Couleurs ran a cracker at Cheltenham and looked really good there. If I had to pick one to be on here, it’d be Zanahiyr.
“I think Quilixios, Zanahiyr, Haut En Couleurs, Saint Sam and Jeff Kidder will all run and it’ll be a cracking race. It’s not a great one to have a bet on – but at this stage, it’s hard to really get behind one of the runners.”
*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing/Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason, you will lose your stake under traditional antepost rules
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