Who To Follow On Day One Of The Punchestown Festival

The Grade One Champion Chase over two miles sees a superb field of runners head to post and we are siding with Allaho to make it back to back Grade One wins.

The seven year old had a successful novice chasing campaign, narrowly coming second on chase debut he made amends on his second try over fences to an emphatic victory. He rounded out the season going off favourite in last years’ RSA.

A commendable run, his petrol tank was emptying from the dual with Minella Indo.Only for both horses to be caught in the shadows of the post by Champ.

Moving into open company he was well beaten by Min on seasonal debut, didn’t stay at Christmas over three miles but looked right at home dropped back to 2.5 miles at Thurles.

Picking up Grade Two honours he held off the smart looking Elimay, Who has since gone on to frank the form on a few occasions.

Last time out he gave a career best performance when winning the Grade One Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham festival and although dropping in trip, his pedigree suggests he will take it in his stride.

An obvious selection but we can not look past Willie Mullins having a superb day on Tuesday with the Closutton maestro having a big chance in nearly every race on the card.

Across the day his biggest and best chances look to be Echoes In Rain and Blue Lord in the Champion Novice Hurdle, Chacun Pour Soi and Allaho in the Champion Chase and Monkfish in the Champion Novice Chase.

Mullins heads into the festival in frightening form having had six winners from his last 15 rides over the last fortnight and that sees him running at a strike rate of 40%.

Less obvious is putting up jockey Jody McGarvey to have a decent day with a handful of nice rides and may just pay to follow him.

The riders best chances of the day come from Hallowed Star in the first race of the day, with the gelding making his handicap debut and in the other handicap he sits on Gentleman De Mee who is not without a chance.

In the first race McGarvey rides for John Hanlon and when the pair team up together they are running at an 18% strike rate for the year, whilst also producing a profit of £108 from a £1 level stake.