Day 3 Punchestown

I have to start this morning with Gaelic Warrior, wow what a performance yesterday in winning the Punchestown Gold Cup. I thought Fact to File may have the edge over his rival after not running at the Cheltenham festival last month but the Gold Cup’s winners performance yesterday cements him as perhaps one of the best, if not the best staying chaser since Kauto Star. 

I had a lovely day at Punchestown yesterday, we were looked after very well and there was a great atmosphere at the course. The weather was fab, sunny but quite cold in the wind! Unfortunately Thanksforthehelp couldn’t repeat his success of twelve months ago and unfortunately in reapplied blinkers he travelled with a lot of zest early but stopped from two out. He now stays in Ireland for his summer holiday at Martinstown stud. 

We move onto day three of the Punchestown festival but I am heading home!! Racing gets underway at 2.30pm once again and the Le Touche Cup over the cross country fences comes up at 3.40pm and the 2023 grand national runner up Vanilier heads the market for the Gavin Cromwell team. I am particularly looking forward to the 2 mile novices chase at 5.25pm, where Arkle runner up Kopek Des Bordes is favourite. Best of luck to Kieren Buckley in this race who rides second favourite Irish Panther. Kieran started his racing career here at Pond House while his dad Eddie was head lad and his mum worked here as well. Kieren has been doing well in a career in Ireland and it would be great for him to get a big success. The Champion stayers hurdle features at 6.05pm and Teahupoo is looking to add a win for Gordon Elliott in what has been a good start to the week for their ream. Blinkers are applied today and I think he will take all the beating. Sales follow the racing action with 26 horses up for auction. 

There are five flat meetings in Britain today at Yarmouth, Lingfield, Redcar, Kempton and Southwell. 

From what I can gather, it was another drama filled champions league semi-final last night which ended in a 1-1 draw between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal. All to play for back at the Emirates in the second leg. Tonight we have the Europa League semi-finals and it is an all English affair in one of the matches with Nottingham Forrest at home to Aston Villa while in the Conference semi-final, Crystal Palace are away to Shakhtar D. 

My pet frog has a sprained ankle. 

He is very unhoppy! 

Have a good day!