Templegate tips in-form Willie Mullins to strike again on day three of Punchestown Festival
PACK A PUNCH Templegate tips in-form Willie Mullins to strike again on day three of Punchestown Festival
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THE Flat is fully underway in Britain - but there is one more week of star-studded action in Ireland.
Here, Templegate goes through the Grade 1s on day three of the Punchestown Festival, running through the big chances and revealing his tip for each contest.
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Majborough can strike at Punchestown
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5.25
MAJBOROUGH can make amends for his mishap in the Arkle but taking this. He did well to stand up after a crashing error at the second last and he was less than a length down at the line.
He's had 51 days to recover from that and hopefully he'll jump better now he has three chases under his belt. He's a proven Grade 1 performer who has more to come and Willie Mullins has won the past NINE runnings of this.
Only By Night is the obvious choice for the forecast spot after finishing a nose ahead of the tip last time. That was a major step forward and she could improve again with her 7lb mares' allowance coming in handy. Rubaud is best of the rest and he was short of this level at Aintree last time.
6.00
HIDDENVALLEY LAKE can get the better of ownermate Teahupoo who would like the ground a fair bit softer.
The top was impressive when winning the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle last time with a fair bit left in the tank. He has plenty of stamina and won't mind the decent conditions.
Teahupoo is still a live contender after his second to Bob Olinger in the Stayers' at Cheltenham. He won this last year so there are no trip or track issues.
Asterion Forlonge was second in the past two runnings of this and is back over hurdles after making errors over fences at Cork last time. He can make the frame again for Mullins and Townend.
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