Horseracing Betting Briefing: April 27 - May 2

Events / Andrew Hughes / 25 April 2009 / Leave a Comment

From Longchamp to Punchestown to Newmarket, Andrew Hughes has no chaff to sort from any wheat this week - the racing is high quality everywhere you look.

Sunday April 26

2:20 Prix Vaneaux
Another quality Sunday card from over the Channel. This valuable Group Three over a mile-and-a-quarter goes back to 1868. Confined to three year old fillies, it is worth watching for potential middle distance stars.

2:50 Prix Ganay
A high class Group One, this grand old race is targeted by the trainers of some of Europe's best horses. A contest for older horses, it has been won two years in a row by Aidan O'Brien, with Dylan Thomas in 2007 and Duke Of Marmalade last year.

3:20 Prix de Barbeville
An interesting Group Three for older horses. Run over just shy of two miles, this is an opportunity for some of the better French stayers, with last year's winner Coastal Path going on to run well in the Ascot Gold Cup.


Tuesday April 28

4:20 Champion Novice Hurdle
The Punchestown Festival is a highlight of the racing year and this is the first of three cracking Graded races on the opening day. A two mile contest, it features some of the best novices from either side of the Irish Sea, including antepost Supreme Novices favourite, Cousin Vinny.

6:05 Kerrygold Champion Chase
The Irish version of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, this two mile event has been won by some fine horses, including Moscow Flyer and this year could feature a champion of potentially similar stature in Master Minded.

6:40 Champion Novice Chase
The Punchestown equivalent of the Royal and Sun Alliance Chase, this Grade One is an opportunity for stamina laden novices to show what they can do.


Wednesday April 29

3:55 Sagaro Stakes
A welcome visit to Ascot for this Group Three over two miles. Some of the country's better stayers will feature here and it is a useful race to bear in mind when looking at subsequent staying contests such as the Chester Cup and of the course the Gold Cup here in June.

Punchestown

5:30 Champion INH Flat Race
The best bumper in Ireland, though as ever in these contests, punters should probably tread carefully and watch the Betfair market closely.

6:05 Punchestown Gold Cup
There is no established start such as a Kauto Star or a Denman for the Festival's feature race, but still a useful field assembled for this three mile and a furlong contest including Welsh National winner Notre Petre.


Thursday April 30

5:30 World Series Hurdle
Some good entries for this equivalent of the World Hurdle, including the second and third from Cheltenham: the appropriately named Punchestowns and Powerstation.

6:40 Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase
Two miles for the speedier novices, this has been won by some decent horses in the past and the entrants this time include Arkle winner Forpadydeplasterer.

Friday May 1

5:30 Rabobank Champion Hurdle
The first of two such titled races, this is the two mile version and looks to be a very strong renewal with the current British Champion Hurdler Punjabi joined by the likes of Sublimity, Sizing Europe, Catch Me and novice star Hurricane Fly.

6:05 Land Rover Champion Hurdle
The other most valuable hurdling event for Novices at the festival, this two and a half mile contest is the equivalent of Cheltenham's Ballymore Properties Hurdle and is an opportunity for those youngsters best suited by the intermediate distance.


Saturday May 2

2:30 Jockey Club Stakes
This is a high quality Group Two run over a mile and a half that is likely to feature some very good horses, many of which will have been competing in the Derby, St Leger or the Arc last year.

3:10 2000 Guineas
The first Classic of the season, one of the oldest and most prestigious contests on the racing calendar. There has been a lot of talk about the potential for a small field this year, but however many horses line up for this straight and galloping mile, there will be no lack of quality, with Delegator the current antepost favourite at [5.1]

3:45 Palace House Stakes
A five furlong charge, this Group Three event is an exciting one to watch and will feature some of the better sprinters around. Punters will have been watching for the effects of the draw in the earlier races.