Punchestown Festival race by race betting guide
Five days of top-class horse racing action await us at Irish Jump Racing HQ as Cheltenham Festival revenge will be on the minds of many of the top connections. But this week also gives smaller outfits a chance to have their day in the sun on the big stage. The five-day Punchestown Festival has something for all on and off the track, but for the next five days, I will be on the hunt for more big-priced winners on the track. Get the best Punchestown odds and promotions with the best horse racing betting sites here. Punchestown 2:30 Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Chase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup – 3m½f (Banks) (5yo+) The traditional Ladies Perpetual Cup gets us underway for the 2025 Punchestown Festival, giving us our first taste of the banks course this week. Knockiel Synge will look to record a famous double as he aims to bravely defend his title from the front once again. He has to be feared, but the one who may prove too strong for him again is FRALIMONTI BILBERY. At the beginning of the month, the selection finished ten lengths ahead of Knockiel Synge at Lingstown and only found Vital Island too good for him. He was no match for I Masked Du Potier on his next start, but this lightly raced seven-year-old could have a lot more to offer. Others that can run well are Transprint and Turnupdevolume. Keep On Dreaming would be a player where he to get a run. Selection: Fralimonti Bilbery Danger: Transprint Bet on Fralimonti Bilbery with Betfred Punchestown 3:05 Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final Handicap Hurdle – 2m3½f (4yo+) In a race such as this, there are so many that you could make a case for. The UK took last season’s renewal back over the Irish Sea, and the same could happen again. Stay If U Want To won well at Kelso when last seen, and has to respected off his 7lb higher mark. Rocheval and the hat-trick-seeking Boyles Hill are other UK raiders who are respected, but the one who looks firmly on the upgrade is BLUE HOP. His running style is tailormade for big field handicaps such as this, and he has shown that he is on top of his game with an easy win over Kilta at Wetherby at the end of March. Rachael Blackmore takes the ride today, and even with his hike in the weights, that should not stop this progressive hurdler from going close here. Other each way interests are Bright Legend, who gets the assistance of Harry Cobden, Londonofficecallin, and if you can forgive Must Go Now for his below-par run at Fairyhouse, then he would have big claims. Selection: Blue Hop (e/w) Danger: Must Go Now (e/w) Bet on Blue Hop with SBK Punchestown 3:40 Listed Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle – 2m½f (4yo+) We’re faced with another difficult handicap hurdle to solve, and you guessed it, a case can be made for most of the field. Lark In The Mornin was well fancied for the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but was very disappointing. There is a chance that he can bounce back here, but at his current price he wouldn’t be for me today. Ascending Lark is five from five for Harry Derham, and he has to be given the highest respect from a yard going places. He is still on a competitive mark and should be bang there at the finish. Helvic Dream was just touched off on his return to hurdling last week, and if this race doesn’t come too quick for him after that run, he has plenty of form at this level to give him a strong each-way chance. The one who looks to have a bit more to offer and who finished ahead of Lark In The Mornin at Cheltenham is IRISH PANTHER. In the early stages of his career for Eddie O’Grady, Irish Panther showed a glimpse that he had the potential to be well above average, none more so when he finished two lengths off Fact To File and just over four lengths off Ballyburn in two bumpers. He failed to kick on over hurdles and has yet to get off the mark, but since switching to Eddie & Patrick Harty, Irish Panther is running like a horse who could be about to strike in a handicap like this, and his narrow defeat at the Dublin Racing Festival proves that. He runs off a 3lb lower mark than at Cheltenham and has it in him to run a big race. Selection: Irish Panther 12/1 (e/w) Danger: Ascending Laek 10/1 (e/w) Current Betting: Lark In The Mornin 9/2, Serienmond 6/1, Wilful 9/1, American Money 10/1, Ascending Lark 10/1, Irish Panther 12/1, Helvic Dream 12/1, 14/1 bar. Bet on Irish Panther with talkSPORT BET Punchestown 4:15 Grade 1 KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle – 2m½f (5yo+) The first Grade 1 of the Punchestown Festival is one of the most straightforward ones to solve, as it is impossible to oppose the unbeaten KOPEK DES BORDES. The two-time Grade 1 Novice Hurdler, including the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, looks to have the world at his feet. He may be a two-time Grade 1 winner already, but the fact that he still looks green when winning means that we have yet to see anywhere near

Five days of top-class horse racing action await us at Irish Jump Racing HQ as Cheltenham Festival revenge will be on the minds of many of the top connections.
But this week also gives smaller outfits a chance to have their day in the sun on the big stage. The five-day Punchestown Festival has something for all on and off the track, but for the next five days, I will be on the hunt for more big-priced winners on the track.
Get the best Punchestown odds and promotions with the best horse racing betting sites here.