DAY three of the Punchestown Festival is stacked with competitive races where you will find a lot of betting value.
The highlight of day three comes in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Stayers Hurdle where Teahupoo looks to back up his success in the Cheltenham Stayers Hurdle, but, let’s not forget he was turned over at short odds in this last season.
Can he right the wrongs of last season? Let’s find out as I give you my best horse racing betting tips for day three of the Punchestown Festival. Find the curated list of the best horse racing betting sites below, with the best offers for Punchestown.
Punchestown Festival betting tipsNot to forget that the enigma that is Gaelic Warrior also runs today in the Grade 1 Barberstown Castle Chase, but at odds of 1/3 we will sit back and watch him win.
Today I have three selections that are sitting there on big odds, but the one I fancy the most runs in one of my favourite races of the week, the 4m1f La Touche Cup.
What a place to start, an 18 runner handicap chase, but there is one lurking at a huge price that I like.
Before I get onto him there are a few who I would not touch at the odds.
Blood Destiny has to lump around 11st 12lb, and with that weight on his back, he is worth taking on at the prices. He has the class angle, but with him not being the biggest horse and only a 5-year-old, this might be too much to handle for him.
The last one I would avoid is Path D’oroux. He has had more chances to win a race like this than you would care to imagine. He will come there looking like he is traveling the best, but once push comes to shove he flatters to deceive every single time.
Onto who I think is a great each-way bet, and that is the Henry de Bromhead trained, GUA DU LARGE at 12/1.
He was highly thought of as a young horse but never seemed to be able to put it together when it mattered. There were signs this season that his talent was still there when he was given an easy time of things on his comeback at Leopardstown at the beginning of March.
Just as he was getting competitive on his next run in a Listed Handicap at Fairyhouse he fell five out. But it was just over one week ago when he gained a comfortable and confidence-boosting success at Tramore, taking a 4-runner race with ease.
That win will do him all the good in the world, and if he can come on again from that win then a mark of 125 looks very favorable here.
Current odds:
Bet on Gua Du Large to win the Listed Frontline Security Handicap Chase at SBK
A sight to behold every year, the marathon that is the La Touche Cup is one of my favourite races of the week.
Some of our old favourties get their chance to shine in the unique surroundings of Punchestown Cross Country Course, and this race never fails to entertain.
But this year one horse could be head and shoulders above them all, and this is COKO BEACH.
His first taste of the Punchestown Cross Country course saw him bolting up by 6 lengths. Unfortunately, we never got to see him take on the Cheltenham Cross Country due to its cancellation, but he can make up for lost time here.
Last seen when pulled up in the Grand National for the second year in a row, Coko Beach can show his true colours here today. He looked like he was running in cross country races all his life that day, and any amount of improvement on that would make him very hard to beat.
From an each-way standpoint, it’s hard to leave out last season’s winner, and Punchestown Festival stalworth, Vital Island. His form figures of P20P don’t fill you with much confidence, but this 12 year old comes to life at the Festival.
Current odds:
Bet on Coko Beach to win the La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase at LiveScore Bet
The Cheltenham Stayers Hurdle hero Teahupoo sits as a short price favourite as he looks to back up his Cheltenham win. But given that he is a better horse when fresh, and given he could only manage 4th in last season’s runner, I’m willing to take him on today with a horse who finished in front of him last season.
That horse is the enigma, ASTERION FORLONGE.
Haven finished 2nd in this last season beaten ½ length, you know that he acts around here and is likely to give his true running going right-handed.
He finished 6th beaten 12 lengths behind Teahupoo at Cheltenham but as we know, Asterion Forlonge does not like racing left-handed, and to finish as close as he did was a great run.
He got back to winning ways at Cork when seeing off Lucid Dreams by 14 lengths. With that confidence booster in, and back to a track he clearly enjoys, I can see him out running his odds today.
Current odds:
Bet on bet on Asterion Forlonge to win the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at Copybet
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).
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