Tipping / Timeform / 18 April 2010 /

Tuesday sees the opening day of the the five-day Punchestown Festival and it kicks off with a bang, containing three Grade 1 events as well as a varied supporting card. Timeform's Billy Nash casts his eye over the fields and has found three horses he wants to keep on side, and one he wants to be against.

The first race (due off 15.40) ) is run over the banks course and sees Wedger Pardy bidding for a hat-trick after wins in 2008 and 2009, but, as you'd expect for a race of this type, he does face the usual Enda Bolger battalion, Outlaw Pete and Zest For Life seeming his two strongest challengers.

Next up is the Grade 1 Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle (16.20), and Britain provides a strong challenger in the shape of General Miller, who made amends for an early mishap at Cheltenham with a gutsy effort at Aintree, seeing off Supreme Novice winner Menorah as the pair pulled clear. He is clearly the solid option but his presence in the line-up does mean that there may be some value elsewhere. Blackstairmountain was rather disappointing at Cheltenham but has since gone close in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse over Easter, looking sure to win when leading at the last before outstayed by Luska Lad. On this livelier ground, he'll be very hard to keep out of the three and makes plenty of appeal as a place bet. At slightly bigger odds, Loosen My Load is another interesting contender. He was a couple of places behind Blackstairmountain at Fairyhouse, but just seemed to get tired in the conditions on his return from a break that day and his earlier efforts mark him out as an exciting prospect.

The Boylesports.com Champion Chase (18.05) and Growise Champion Novices' Chase (18.40) are the other two top-level races on the opening day. The former looks an up-to-scratch renewal even with the absence of last year's front two, Master Minded and Big Zeb. Britain is represented by Kalahari King and Twist Magic, both of whom are on retrieval missions after Aintree and Cheltenham respectively but have already shown form good enough to win an average renewal, while the home team are led by Forpadydeplasterer and the exciting novice Sizing Europe. It promises to be a cracking race, but possibly not one where there are too many betting angles to be found.
In the novice event supporters of the hugely talented, but almost equally frustrating, Zaarito, will be hoping for a clear round of jumping after falls have cost him a leading chance in two Grade 1s already this season. He has plenty on his plate even if producing an error-free round, though, as The Midnight Club has progressed in leaps and bounds over fences this term, matching his hurdles form when third in the Jewson at Cheltenham, despite finding the trip of twenty one furlongs barely adequate.

The other races on the card are a couple of bumpers, in which judging potential rather than form seems the order of the day, and a big-field two-mile handicap (16.55). As with most Festival handicaps, it looks fiercely competitive, but a place lay of Slievecorragh looks a sound play after the handicapper has overreacted to a couple of wins in minor events. Total Excitement is worth backing in the same market, as though he's tricky to win with, he usually runs some sort of race and seems certain to relish this sort of test.

4.20 - Blackstairmountain - Place back

4.55 - Slievecorragh - Place lay
Total Excitement - Place back

6.40 - The Midnight Club - Win back
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