Day Two At Punchestown Lives Up To Expectations

Despite the drizzling rain though, punters spirits weren’t dampened and with plenty of Grade 1 action on the card, it lived up to its expectations.

The Punchestown Gold Cup was the feature race and with Coral offering 5/2 about the favourite Sir Des Champs on At The Races this afternoon, punters thought our traders had lost their marbles, with thousands fancying Willie Mullins’ charge to recreate his Gold Cup performance in the testing conditions. And luck was with the punters as Sir Des Champs lived up to all expectations, forcing Coral to cough up a hefty pay-out.

We were extremely impressed by his run, after he held off the strong challenge from Long Run in a thrilling finish, and have cut his odds into 5-1 from 7-1 to reclaim the Gold Cup next year.

Earlier in the day, Morning Assembly threw a spanner in the works when landing the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle. Going off at 14-1, he was left friendless in the betting, with punters lumping on Ruby Walsh’s mount Ballycasey. Coral are quoting 20-1 about Morning Assembly for next year’s World Hurdle, but if the whispers on the track are anything to go by, then he will be going chasing, with the RSA a possibility.