30-04-2025
Spillane's Tower can rise above small but quality Punchestown field
Here are just four runners in this year's Punchestown Gold Cup, but you don't need quantity when you've quality of this level.
Galopin Des Champs has been dethroned as the king of Cheltenham, but he's never really been the king of Punchestown, because from five visits to the track over fences, he has won only once.
Banbridge is the King George winner who disappointed at Cheltenham and Spillane's Tower hasn't been seen since he disappointed in the King George. So there's many balls in the air here, and no certainties. Spillane's Tower, with Mark Walsh up, on their way to victory at Fairyhouse last year. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
I know my parents are really happy with Spillane's Tower and while they were disappointed they couldn't run at Aintree due to the drying ground conditions, they are confident he could run a career-best here.
He's my selection to win this — call it what you want, maybe it's my heart leading my head. But to see Spillane's Tower winning today, well that would be the result of the week for me.
In the Grade One bumper (4.50), I think Colcannon is going to run a big race for Noel Meade. Colcannon, with Derek O'Connor up, on their way to victory at Leopardstown earlier this year. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
The obvious solution to this puzzle is Bambino Fever, but she's a very short-priced favourite out of the Willie Mullins yard.
I just think Colcannon could run a big race because his form from Leopardstown is working out really well. It's a small field in this as well, and he drops in last so his running style will really suit a small field. Expect Derek Connor to play his cards late and maybe catch the mare on the line.
The day's other Grade One is the three-mile Channor Novice Hurdle (4.15), for which I like Honesty Policy, trained by Gordon Elliott. I think stepping up to three miles will really improve his chances. He was a winner at two and a half miles at Aintree, and he looked like he was going as quick as he could go everywhere, so the extra half-mile should really suit. Honesty Policy, with Mark Walsh up, on their way to victory at Aintree. Pic:And while I respect Jasmin De Vaux, I don't believe he's as fluent a hurdler as Honesty Policy who's a year younger and maybe has more improvement to come.
Cork jockey John Shinnick is two winners off the leader in the race to be crowned champion conditional jockey and he will be hoping he can win on Fairyland Opera in the first race on the card, the Adare Manor Opportunity Final Handicap Hurdle (2.30) over two miles and three furlongs.
She's a mare who was a very easy winner at Tramore last time and given her placed form before that, I think Fairyland Opera could defy a rating of 114 and provide Lorna Fowler with an opening race winner.
Next is the Red Mills Auction Series Final (3.05) and Millforce catches my eye here.
I was in Thurles when he won over two miles, six furlongs and he showed pace that day, so I'm not surprised they're dropping back slightly in trip.
Keith Donoghue would have had the choice between Millforce and Champagne Jury as both are trained by Gavin Cromwell, and he's opted to stay loyal to the top horse. So I think Millforce has the experience and the potential class to win this race.
The Louis Fitzgerald Hurdle is a race for horses who have won only once over hurdles. Spillane's Tower managed to get beaten in it two seasons ago.
I think Kaid D'authie is better than we've seen. He won at Leopardstown over Christmas, making all the running, and obviously his connections rated him very highly because his next two runs, while he disappointed, were in Grade One company. Kaid D'authie (right) at Leopardstown in 2024. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
They're putting cheek-pieces on him now because perhaps he's keeping the lion's share of his energy up his own sleeve. I reckon Kaid D'authie is going to take a lot of beating in this race because it's a winners of one, but they thought he was a Grade One horse.
Trainer Paddy Twomey is one of the rising stars of the Flat scene, but when he has one on the National Hunt front, you do take notice.
I rode a Bumper winner for him at the Punchestown Festival many moons ago before he became the man he's known as today. That was on a 33-1 shot, Timing's everything, but today Seo Linn won't be any such fancy odds in the Grade Three Mares' Bumper (6.35).
After winning at the Cheltenham November meeting and the Aintree meeting just gone, I think she can make it a treble by winning this one under Barry O'Neill. Trainer Paddy Twomey. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
In the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase, Must Be Obeyed catches my eye, but be warned — she does not tend to live up to her name.
She can be very cantankerous, particularly at the start where she sometimes sabotages her own chance. But with the cheekpieces fitted first time, I think she can make it her first win since January 2023 under Darragh O'Keeffe, who is riding her at 10st 1lb.
She's been dropped to a mark of 126, expect Must Be Obeyed to be on the pace with those first-time cheekpieces and she may well be hard to catch.
