Horse Racing Tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s fine Friday flutters at Punchestown

Mighty Mick Fitz is back for the fourth day at Punchestown on Paddy Power Champion Hurdle day.

By / Horse Racing Tips / 12 months ago

Mick Fitzgerald’s Punchestown Tips

15:40 Chateau Elan
16:15 So Scottish
16:50 Allegorie de Vassy
17:25 State Man
18:00 Impaire et Passe
18:35 Vaucelet
19:10 Firm Footings
19:45 Irish Panther

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

15:40 Chateau Elan

Let’s kick off with the “farmers race” over the banks. Chateau Elan finished second on his first try round this track last year, to a smart horse in Alpha Male, and that is good form after a fourth in a Lingstown point-to-point this season. He could spring a surprise in this contest.

16:15 So Scottish

Emmet Mullins has already won one big prize at the festival and So Scottish was a little disappointing finishing seventh at the Cheltenham Festival, but there is no doubting his ability and I am sure there is more to come from this horse.

16:50 Allegorie de Vassy

I was very much against Allegorie de Vassy at Cheltenham, because of her tendency to jump right-handed. She very nearly got away with this before being beaten by Impervious. I think being back at this track will suit and on the slightly quicker ground I don’t think there will be that much between them. With this filly going the right way round, she may be the value in this contest to beat Impervious.

17:25 State Man

With no Constitution Hill to worry about that should leave the way open for State Man to win again here. He is unbeaten in completed starts on Irish soil, so it would be a brave call to see him beaten here. Pied Piper and Sharjah deserve respect but have finished behind this lad already.

18:00 Impaire et Passe

I loved Impaire et Passe when he won the Moscow Flyer at this track and I think he is really smart. Wouldn’t be the biggest surprise to see this horse targeted at a Champion Hurdle.

18:35 Vaucelet

Vaucelet looked the real deal going into Cheltenham. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out from finishing seventh. David Christie is a hunter chase genius and I can see this horse getting back on the winning trail.

19:10 Firm Footings

I find it fascinating that Willie Mullins pitches Sa Majeste in here and, with the form his horses are in, it will be hard to oppose one of his. It is guess work though and Firm Footings is the safer option as placed in a bumper at last year’s festival, his fifth at Cheltenham reads well.

19:45 Irish Panther

It would be fantastic to see Edward O’Grady have a winner at the festival. The Mulryan family have already had success and Irish Panther ran very well at the Christmas Leopardstown meeting behind Fact to File. That is really strong form. John Gleeson is another who has had success this week and he partners this horse.

Mick Fitzgerald’s Punchestown Tips

15:40 Chateau Elan
16:15 So Scottish
16:50 Allegorie de Vassy
17:25 State Man
18:00 Impaire et Passe
18:35 Vaucelet
19:10 Firm Footings
19:45 Irish Panther

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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