S.P.Read Esq: Punchestown Day One

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to the day one of the PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.

All eyes on Punchestown this afternoon for the start of the 2015 Festival – run on expected good to yielding ground.

Not the easiest punting card today – three odds on favourites – an impossible looking handicap and two bumpers with a high number of debutants making them even more trappy than normal.

The money buyers will no doubt be out in force in the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle at 4.20 where red hot favourite Douvan probably doesn’t need even to reproduce the same level of form he showed when storming clear to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Certainly it’s hard to see how Sizing John (second favourite in today’s race and third at Cheltenham) can turn around the seven lengths he was beaten by. The others have 20lb and more to find on the formbook.

The meeting starts with a likely odds-on shot in the shape of Wish Ye Didnt – although this one is very much priced on the reputation of connections rather than anything she has shown on the racecourse. Trainer Enda Bolger has won four of the last five runnings of this and although Wish Ye Didnt looks to have the profile of a horse likely to extend the run – at odds on with no wins from seven starts I don’t want to pay to find out.

The Champion Chase at 5.30pm must have given Ruby Walsh some headaches. He’s chosen Champagne Fever over the Mullins stable companions Felix Yonger and Twinlight. I’m not sure though. Champagne Fever looked in need of a break to me when well beaten in the Melling Chase at Aintree last time out.

With so many short priced favourites on the card a buy of distances with Star Spreads at 33 looks very tempting.

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BUY DISTANCES for 30 points at around 33 lengths with Star Spreads

• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
• Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.