A cert at Punchestown today!!

Yesterday saw the start of the Punchestown festival with the notable participation of Twist Magic which lead a 1-2 for Nicholls and also Charlie Mann’s Air Force One spread eagling a good field with Pomme Tiepy 13 lengths behind in 2nd. This bodes well for the English runners today.

Paul Nicholls runs Neptunes Collonges in the 4.15 race and will be a warm order at around 5/4. This appears to be a very good price given that this horse was 3rd in the Gold Cup and only beaten a head by Kauto Star (2nd in the Gold Cup behind Denman) He also gave lumps of weight to good horses at Wincanton and duly obliged finished 13 lengths ahead of Naunton Brook and over 50 lengths a head of Butlers Cabin. More importantly than this Neptunes Collonges won this race last year and is a better horse this year and is still only 7 years old, so is open to masses of improvement. Kicking King is a danger to all but after his long lay off, this former gold cup winner as not looked like the same horse. Mossbank is a danger as well given his very consistent performances this year and he was 2nd behind Our Vic in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham and Our Vic as gone on to lower the colours of Kauto Star at Aintree.

An interesting stat is a horse that has run in the Gold Cup has won this race for the last 6 years and Neptunes Collonges is the only horse that this applies to so in conclusion I would recommend 10 points on Neptunes Collonges at 5/4 with Betfair and if you open an account with Betfair today you will receive a free £25 bet.