Who To Follow On Day Three Of The Punchestown Festival

The feature event on day three is the Grade One Champion Stayers' Hurdle over three miles and we can't look past the favourite Flooring Porter.

A graduate from handicaps for Gavin Cromwell, Flooring Porter signed off his handicap exploits with a dominant front running display at Navan.

He beat the Pertemps final favourite The Bosses Oscar by 12 lengths giving him 1lb and showed just how big his engine was.

He took the plunge into Grade One company on his second to last run in the Christmas Hurdle and caught the field out with his extravagant front running style.

Bouncing out, making all to beat The Storyteller by six lengths. He then took it one step further in his career to land a hat-trick of wins and a quick-fire double in Group Ones when taking the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival, not being caught from the front.

He has some impressive form on paper, and has to be the one to beat if sticking to his usual front running tactics.

Henry De Bromhead has had a quiet start to the Punchestown festival so far with it being the Willie Mullins show, but on Thursday that could all change.

The handler has some leading chances in some of the big races with Raya Time looking handicapped to strike earlier on in the card.

Second in the Mares' Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival Magical Daze is looking to land the Listed Mares event and then in the final race of the afternoon Grand Jury looks a big player under Jamie Codd in the bumper.

De Bromhead over the last year has got a superb record with his runners at the track fielded 62 runners and managing 11 winners and eight places which sees him pose a strike rate of 18%.

Jordan Gainford is a jockey that has bounced onto the Irish national hunt scene this season and many handlers have been utilising his 7lb claim.

On Thursday the youngster has a handful of good rides, with one of his best coming from Dallas Des Pictons, who could rejuvenate his career with a good run.

The superstar in the making has had one winners and two places from nine rides at the track during his career to date and he has a big chance to add to that.