The highlight of Wednesday’s race card line-up is undoubtedly the second day of the Punchestown Festival and the Gold Cup, though there are other meetings over in the UK at Ascot, Brighton, Kempton, Pontefract and Wolverhampton to peruse, giving us ample opportunity to identify potential profit. Yesterday, our three selections returned one placed runner and yet another winner when Daddy Long Legs delivered the goods at Punchestown. View our latest horse racing betting tips below.
Best Tip #1: Mistergif – Punchestown, 15:40
Willie Mullins has Paul Townend in the saddle for Mistergif in the third race on day two of the Punchestown Festival and that pair combined to win this renewal last year with Grangeclare West.
Mistergif won a Maiden Hurdle in Limerick and shaped up decently in a couple of Class 1 races at Cheltenham and Aintree shortly after. Already listed as favourite on horse racing betting sites, the 5-year-old is the one to beat here.
Nicky Henderson’s East India Express could be the one to offer the stiffest challenge. Lightly-raced over the past year, he returned to action with a run to second over hurdles at Newbury in February and could be in the mix here.
Tag Man could have credentials off a bigger price for Henry De Bromhead. The booking of Rachael Blackmore could be significant for the former bumper winner.
| Bookmaker | Odds |
| Betzone UK | 1/1 |
| Planet Sport Bet | 1/1 |
| Fitzdares | 1/1 |
Best Tip #2: Stellar Story – Punchestown – 16:15
Gordon Elliott’s Stellar Story beat today’s favourite Dancing City to the post in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival in March and that makes the 7-year-old the slightly more interesting prospect ahead of his rival here.
Stellar Story hasn’t been seen since winning that Grade 1 event, so he also has freshness on his side and he is taken to get one over Dancing City again today.
The Willie Mullins and Paul Townend’s double act generally attracts plenty of backing and it’s no surprise to see Dancing City as the dominant force in the ante-post movements, and he should be a leading contender again following a recent record of 1-1-3-1.
Elliott’s Better Days Ahead could also come into contention. He won his maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse back in November and the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham on March 15th.
| Bookmaker | Odds |
| Betzone UK | 9/2 |
| Planet Sport Bet | 9/2 |
| Fitzdares | 9/2 |
Best Roughie: Kuwait City – Ascot, 16:00
We switch over to Ascot to find our favoured longer shot today and Kuwait City could have what it takes to win a Class 4 Handicap in Berkshire. The 4-year-old came up late to win ahead of nine opponents at Yarmouth on April 13th on what was his first outing since last Autumn.
The slower ground shouldn’t be much of an issue at Ascot today and Kuwait City has been fairly treated in the rankings, moving up just 2lb after his recent triumph.
Juicy has been the market leader on the best betting apps in the lead-up to today’s action, though improvement is needed there after a fourth-place trip at Newcastle in February.
Fair Wind meanwhile, hasn’t been around since October last year, though he signed off with a good win at Windsor in October and warrants plenty of respect on his return despite a 5lb increase.
| Bookmaker | Odds |
| Betzone UK | 6/1 |
| Planet Sport Bet | 6/1 |
| Fitzdares | 6/1 |
Stats and Insights
- Top Irish trainers like Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliot and Henry De Bromhead have all enjoyed plenty of success at Punchestown and yesterday Mullins dominated headlines again thanks to Daddy Long Leg’s success in the Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle.
- Six of the last 11 winners of The Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle were won by the favourite, while six of the last 11 winners of the renewal won on their previous race before entering. Willie Mullins is targeting a fourth successive win in this race in 2024.
- Previous course form tends to be a significant foreshadowing factor at Ascot, so look for horses that have tasted success in Berkshire before. Trainer Paul Nicholls has seven wins from 31 races at Ascot this season while jockey Ben Jones has a 60%-strike rate at the track this term.
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