The Jump Zone: Featuring The Racehour, Donn McClean & Tanya Stevenson
Article By
Last Updated: 
Punchestown Festival Tips & Angles
- Tanya Stevenson's Tip for the 4.15 at Punchestown (Saturday) - Cruz Control
- Donn McClean's Angle for the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle - 4.50 Punchestown (Saturday)
- Racehour Tips for Punchestown from Cian Kirby
Welcome to the The Jump Zone which features tips and analysis from Racehour regulars Donn McClean, Cian Kirby & Tanya Stevenson for all the upcoming National Hunt action.
As always, you’ll find the most up-to-date odds with horse racing betting sites, but don’t sleep on our tipster’s predictions as those odds could soon be snapped up by the betting public. Odds stated are correct at the time of publishing.
Tanya Stevenson's Tip for the 4.15 at Punchestown (Saturday) - Cruz Control
Tom Lacey has already found the Punchestown winners enclosure with Tune In A Box and he had the third in the race with Montregard for good measure.
He unleashes more talent on Saturday in Cruz Control who has come through the chasing ranks gradually and gently gone up in distance also.
Back in October he finished second over two miles to Matata at Ffos Las. That rival was seen finishing fourth in the Arkle later in the season.
Everything contrived against him at Ascot in November when fifth to Sir Psycho. He didn’t jump well, he was short of room and it became apparent further would be better.
He was then given a confidence boosting success at Newcastle. He always showed talent and was favourite on all of his first four runs this season.
Tom Lacey then gave him the ultimate examination and ran him in the Eider Chase over four miles.
He did well to be fifth on ground he hated. Perhaps a scouting mission for next season?
He then returned to Newcastle over a more manageable distance and defeated some in-form rivals. I sense in part because his campaign wasn’t the norm he came into Aintree underestimated and made all.
When those in behind felt he would come back he just kept galloping. Tom Lacey obviously feels there is more to come so he is giving him a big chance at Punchestown.
Tanya Stevenson's Tip for the 4.15 at Punchestown (Saturday) - Cruz Control
Donn McClean's Angle
Champion Four Year Old Hurdle - 4.50 Punchestown (Saturday)
Kargese sets a high standard in the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown on Saturday.
Willie Mullins’ mare finished second in the Grade 2 Mercedes-Benz Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival on her first run in Ireland, when she was keener than ideal in the early part of the race, and she stepped forward from that next time to win the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.
She went close too in the two Grade 1 juvenile hurdles at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals.
She only just gave best to Majborough in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, and she finished second to the exciting Sir Gino in the Anniversary Hurdle at Aintree in April.
She has proven herself to be one of the best juvenile hurdlers this season, and she deserves her position at the top of the market for Saturday’s contest.
But Bottler’secret is talented too. He won two of his three races on the flat for Ciaran Murphy, reaching a flat rating of 87 and retaining the potential to go higher.
He won a Grade 3 contest at Naas on his first run over hurdles, his first run for Gavin Cromwell, and he stepped forward from that last time to win the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting.
He was weak in the market before that race, but he was very good in winning it.
His jumping was good, he settled really nicely in the front rank, and he came away from his rivals fairly readily when his rider Keith Donoghue gave him a squeeze.
Fast ground on Saturday would be a worry, because all his form is on soft ground, but his half-brothers Yamato and Magic Shuffle handled good ground well, so he should be fine on Saturday’s ground.
There is no knowing how good he could be, and he could be the value against Kargese on Saturday.
Cian Kirby's Racehour Punchestown Selections
Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Saturday) - Kargese 15/8
The highlight of the final day of the Punchestown Festival is the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle where Willie Mullins can bag himself yet another winner with Kargese.
The mare came second to Majborough at Cheltenham when looking like the winner before the last hurdle.
She followed that up with an excellent run at Aintree when giving Sir Gino plenty to think about in the closing stages.
That's the best form on offer and as the favourite on betting sites she can round off a fantastic campaign with another well-earned Grade One victory.
2024 Punchestown Festival Preview
If you’re on the look out for free bets and betting sign up offers, be sure to visit our latest sports promotions page where you’ll find the latest ones to be released by bookmakers.
You can see this week’s sports betting sign up offers in order to take advantage, with customers needing to follow some simple steps for each one.
Stay In The Loop With Free Bets, Insider Tips & More!
Live Betting. Sports Promos. Sent Weekly.
Updated by
Last Updated:
