Punchestown Festival 2016: Day Three Preview

Just as Annie Power deputised for the injured Faugheen in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, Vroum Vroum Mag looks set to step into Annie Power’s shoes in the Punchestown equivalent, as the high-class dual-Festival winner has been met with a setback. This will of course change the complex of Thursday’s Champion Stayers Hurdle, for which Vroum Vroum Mag was set to run in, and leaves Alpha des Obeaux some 8 lb clear on Timeform ratings.

Alpha des Obeaux has proved extremely consistent in his career so far as he’s won twice and finished runner-up on his other seven completed starts, while he was a length down in second and sticking at it when falling at the last in the Sefton Novices’ won by Thistlecrack at Aintree last spring. Having taken the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran in January (wore cheekpieces for the only time so far) and proved best of the rest behind Thistlecrack in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, Alpha des Obeaux missed the latest GrandNational meeting and that could stand him in good stead here.

In the absence of Vroum Vroum Mag Willie Mullins’ first string is now Shaneshill, who did run at Aintree earlier this month and chased home Thistlecrack in the Liverpool Hurdle. He’d raced over fences previously this season, finishing a half-length second in the RSA, but could easily run another good race if sticking to timber here.

Diamond King has got his career firmly back on track for the Gordon Elliott yard this season, winning a minor event over two and a half miles here and the Coral Cup at Cheltenham on his last two starts and could feature if improving again. He’s certainly proved a strong traveller over shorter trips so far (and is in the Champion Hurdle on Thursday) but was strong in the finish over 21 furlongs for his latest success and may find three miles within his grasp.

Dedigout could be interesting as he’d be a player on his best form and shaped as if he retained most, if not all, of his ability on his second start back when two and a half lengths third to Value At Riskin a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse last month.

Thistlecrack’s absence should at least make for a more competitive race, and it’s difficult to choose between the established form of Alpha des Obeaux and the potential of Vroum Vroum Mag, especially as they are closely matched in the current betting. Alpha des Obeaux just gets the vote, with Shaneshill taken to complete the placings.

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The opening day of the Punchestown Festival was not a good one for Willie Mullins, who saw both Yorkhill and Vautour run below form, perhaps as a result of the fact that they had partaken in both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals already this spring. Mullins will be hoping the same doesn’t happen to Douvan in the Ryanair Novices’ Chase over two miles on Thursday. Douvan has won all his 10 outings since finishing second on his debut in France in 2014, nine of those wins coming for his current connections, including the Arkle at Cheltenham and Maghull at Aintree in the last six weeks, and if on-song will continue to prove very difficult to beat.

Sizing John has already been beaten five times by Douvan and comes here on the back of a well-held third to Arzal in the Manifesto over 20 furlongs at Aintree, his first defeat in a race won by something other than Douvan over fences. He’ll be happier back over two miles and his jumping remains an asset, but he may only be playing for second place once again here.

The Game Changer shaped better than the result when fourth in the Arkle and was back to his best when 14 lengths second to Douvan in the Maghull, but he only momentarily looked as if he could make any impression on the winner at Aintree and will likely struggle against the same rival here.

The entries are completed by Ttebbob, who looked a very smart prospect when winning twice before Christmas but was very disappointing in the Racing Post Novices’ won by Douvan on Boxing Day (pulled up) and wasted what had looked a good opportunity when second of three to Sambremont in a Navan Grade 2 last time, Mr Picotee and Baltimore Rock.