talkSPORT betting tips – Best racing bets and expert advice for Punchestown Festival Day 3
Day three of the Punchestown Festival comes along on Thursday as they pass halfway in the Co Kildare marathon. The feature race on Thursday evening is the Champion Stayers’ Hurdle, where Teahupoo will be aiming to retain his crown for trainer Gordon Elliott. Our three best bets on Thursday’s Punchestown card are below. talkSPORT BET welcome offer – Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets* Thursday’s Punchestown Festival tips 4.15 Punchestown – I Love My Baie – SP 4.50 Punchestown – Sixandahalf – SP 6.00 Punchestown – Teahupoo – 13/8 4.15 Punchestown – I Love My Baie – SP The Listed Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle is something of a minefield with a full entry of 25 runners set to go to post in this contest over just shy of three miles, but Stuart Crawford’s runner I LOVE MY BAIE could go well at a price. He’s one of two runners in the double green silks of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and, while retained rider JJ Slevin prefers C’est Ta Chance for the Willie Mullins yard, this seven-year-old shouldn’t be overlooked. Crawford gets excellent support from this top ownership and he usually justifies it. I Love My Baie is 3-9 over hurdles with four more placed efforts along the way. He had wins at Ayr (2m4½f, soft) in December 2023 and then at Newbury (2m3f, good to soft) last March before a good third at the Scottish venue over this trip. He returned to action after 305 days with a pleasing third back at Ayr this month and he should be all the sharper for that run. He can also run from 4lb lower in this contest and is not yet exposed over this longer trip. 4.50 Punchestown – Sixandahalf – SP More Listed action here, this time for the Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle where SIXANDAHALF will be bidding to atone for a near miss at Cheltenham last month for Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue. The Snow Sky mare was smart on the Flat and made a winning hurdles debut when bagging a Fairyhouse maiden (2m2½f, yielding to soft) in January, making a fine first impression. At Cheltenham, she appeared to travel like the best horse in the race in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, but she was picked off late by Air Of Entitlement for Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead. Donoghue clearly felt after that race that he should have delayed his challenge a bit longer and they may get compensation coming down in class/trip now on a mare with the flat speed to cope. 6.00 Punchestown – Teahupoo – 13/8 Another contender coming here with compensation in mind is TEAHUPOO, the Gordon Elliott runner having missed out on successive Stayers’ Hurdle wins at Cheltenham last time. He, too, was denied by the inspired Blackmore on board Bob Olinger, as the winner maintained a perfect record at Cheltenham. Teahupoo didn’t do much wrong in the circumstances. He has enjoyed a light season, as is his wont and a seven-week break from the Cotswolds to this race is optimal for him. He won this contest decisively last season following on from Cheltenham and, with the possible exception of Crambo (at his best) and the improving Rocky’s Diamond, it doesn’t look to be as difficult an assignment this time around. He’s proven himself to be the best stayer around when he’s on song and conditions looks pitch perfect for him now. talkSPORT BET welcome offer – Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets* *all odds correct at time of writing and subject to change 18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10 on any horse racing at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. Scroll down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed GamCare – www.gamcare.org.uk Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites. Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org
Day three of the Punchestown Festival comes along on Thursday as they pass halfway in the Co Kildare marathon.
The feature race on Thursday evening is the Champion Stayers’ Hurdle, where Teahupoo will be aiming to retain his crown for trainer Gordon Elliott. Our three best bets on Thursday’s Punchestown card are below.
talkSPORT BET welcome offer – Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets*
Thursday’s Punchestown Festival tips
- 4.15 Punchestown – I Love My Baie – SP
- 4.50 Punchestown – Sixandahalf – SP
- 6.00 Punchestown – Teahupoo – 13/8
4.15 Punchestown – I Love My Baie – SP
The Listed Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle is something of a minefield with a full entry of 25 runners set to go to post in this contest over just shy of three miles, but Stuart Crawford’s runner I LOVE MY BAIE could go well at a price.
He’s one of two runners in the double green silks of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and, while retained rider JJ Slevin prefers C’est Ta Chance for the Willie Mullins yard, this seven-year-old shouldn’t be overlooked. Crawford gets excellent support from this top ownership and he usually justifies it.
I Love My Baie is 3-9 over hurdles with four more placed efforts along the way. He had wins at Ayr (2m4½f, soft) in December 2023 and then at Newbury (2m3f, good to soft) last March before a good third at the Scottish venue over this trip.
He returned to action after 305 days with a pleasing third back at Ayr this month and he should be all the sharper for that run. He can also run from 4lb lower in this contest and is not yet exposed over this longer trip.
4.50 Punchestown – Sixandahalf – SP
More Listed action here, this time for the Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle where SIXANDAHALF will be bidding to atone for a near miss at Cheltenham last month for Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue.
The Snow Sky mare was smart on the Flat and made a winning hurdles debut when bagging a Fairyhouse maiden (2m2½f, yielding to soft) in January, making a fine first impression.
At Cheltenham, she appeared to travel like the best horse in the race in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, but she was picked off late by Air Of Entitlement for Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead.
Donoghue clearly felt after that race that he should have delayed his challenge a bit longer and they may get compensation coming down in class/trip now on a mare with the flat speed to cope.
6.00 Punchestown – Teahupoo – 13/8
Another contender coming here with compensation in mind is TEAHUPOO, the Gordon Elliott runner having missed out on successive Stayers’ Hurdle wins at Cheltenham last time.
He, too, was denied by the inspired Blackmore on board Bob Olinger, as the winner maintained a perfect record at Cheltenham.
Teahupoo didn’t do much wrong in the circumstances. He has enjoyed a light season, as is his wont and a seven-week break from the Cotswolds to this race is optimal for him.
He won this contest decisively last season following on from Cheltenham and, with the possible exception of Crambo (at his best) and the improving Rocky’s Diamond, it doesn’t look to be as difficult an assignment this time around.
He’s proven himself to be the best stayer around when he’s on song and conditions looks pitch perfect for him now.
talkSPORT BET welcome offer – Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets*
*all odds correct at time of writing and subject to change
18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10 on any horse racing at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. Scroll down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- GamCare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org
