Punchestown Festival day 1 racing tips: Best free bets for Tuesday, April 29
Punchestown Festival racegoers
The final big festival of the 2024/25 National Hunt season takes places at Punchestown and the Planet Sport tipsters have a full set of red-hot selections for day 1's action on Tuesday, April 29.
There's 40 races across five days of action from the famous County Kildare track, including 12 Grade 1 contests and €3.5million in prize money.
The bait has been set and there's plenty of British trainers coming across the Irish Sea to challenge for the top Irish prizes.
Tuesday serves up eight races, with an earlier start time of 1430 (BST), and the Grade 1 highlights include the Champion Novice Hurdle (1615), Champion Novice Chase (1650) and the Champion Chase (1800).
Let's begin with a quick run through of our tips, with the reasons why we've picked them further down the page.
If you fancy a punt or two, visit Betway which will show you all the live odds, racecards and results.
Good luck and please gamble responsibly.
(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's latest update)
Tuesday's Punchestown Festival tips:
14:30 (Punchestown) Fralimonto Bilbery
15:05 (Punchestown) Timmy Tuesday
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15:40 (Punchestown) Lark In The Mornin
16:15 (Punchestown) Kopek Des Bordes
16:50 (Punchestown) Ballyburn
17:25 (Punchestown) Leader Des Bordes
18:00 (Punchestown) Fact To File
18:35 (Punchestown) Starting Fifteen
14:30 (Punchestown) Fralimonti Bilbery
The five-day Punchestown Festival begins with an open-looking Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Chase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup.
Fralimonti Bilbery brings good point-to-point form following a smart runner-up effort over 3m a month ago. Tackles this venue for the first time and is a likely player.
Haggard managed a close fourth attempting a 2m6f hunters chase at Tramore in latest and rates highly.
Turnupdevolume maintains a progressive point-to-point record following a narrow maiden success over 3m two weeks back, while Cloudy Tuesday jumps well and was a point-to-point winner two runs ago. Both hold claims.
15:05 (Punchestown) Timmy Tuesday
Timmy Tuesday was an easy Down Royal winner over 2m4f before a strong second attempting a premier handicap hurdle at Aintree at the start of the month.
Gordon Elliott's seven-year-old has a big chance in the Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final Handicap Hurdle.
Bright Legend ran well over the journey producing a second in a Cork maiden hurdle last month. Makes for appeal.
Almuhit bids for a hat-trick following a 5.5L victory in a handicap hurdle at Warwick and holds claims along with Luminous Light, who also seeks a three-timer after a Cork success.
15:40 (Punchestown) Lark In The Mornin
The 2024 Cheltenham Festival winner Lark In The Mornin disappointed at the Festival last month finishing downfield in the 2m1f County Premier Handicap Hurdle.
Showed ability around this venue previously and warrants respect as set to bounce back in the Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle.
Ascending Lark seeks a six-timer following a 2m handicap hurdle victory at Ludlow. Could go well returning to Ireland.
Gaucher was an impressive 8.5L winner of a G3 Novice hurdle at Naas two outings back and has big claims.
Recent Ayr winner Wilful looks interesting.
16:15 (Punchestown) Kopek Des Bordes
The unbeaten Kopek Des Bordes is already a champion now seeking a top-level hat-trick in the Champion Novice Hurdle.
The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old already has victories in the G1 Leopardstown Ireland Novice Hurdle and in the G1 Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, so is tough to ignore.
Salvator Mundi was fifth behind Kopek Des Bordes at Cheltenham. Enhanced that form when successful by 7L attempting the G1 Top Novices Hurdle at Aintree, so will be the main danger.
Irancy was a winner among G2 company at Fairyhouse three weeks ago, while Karbau finished 8L third behind the second mentioned at Aintree and is of interest.
16:50 (Punchestown) Ballyburn
The second Grade 1 on the card can also go to Willie Mullins with Ballyburn who won in this grade by 5L over at Leopardstown, preceding a not disgraced fifth in the G1 Brown Advisory Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Stablemate Lecky Watson bids for a four-timer after winning that aforementioned Cheltenham event by 4 lengths and has every chance in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase.
Impaire Et Passe recorded a second G1 chase success when landing the G1 Manifesto Novices Chase at Aintree. Can go well again.
Stellar Story placed second behind Lecky Watson at Cheltenham. Can feature.
17:25 (Punchestown) Leader Des Bordes
With little form on offer a market check could prove a helpful guide to the Goffs Defender Bumper.
Leader Des Bordes represents the Mullins yard ahead of this debut. Bred by Tunis out of Miss Berry and rates a likely player.
Santo Sospir made a winning start to his career in February scoring by a neck over 2m1f here. Ticks plenty of boxes.
Maith An Buachaill is by Poet's Word from Thessalienne running for the Mullins yard. Interesting newcomer.
Point-to-point winners Green Hint and If You Believe both warrant consideration.
18:00 (Punchestown) Fact To File
This season's course John Durkan winner Fact To File made the frame twice tackling the top level at Leopardstown before an easy 9L success attempting the G1 Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Mullins' eight-year-old looks hard to beat in the final Grade 1 of the day the William Hill Champion Chase.
Marine Nationale returned to winning ways last month delivering an impressive success in the 2m G1 Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham. Main danger.
El Fabiolo was going well before falling in the G1 Melling Chase at Aintree. Shortlist as set to make amends.
Solness and Captain Guinness rate next best.
18:35 (Punchestown) Starting Fifteen
Starting Fifteen showed plenty of promise on debut when second in a Listed 2m jumpers flat race at Limerick and is a leading contender in the Willie Coonan Memorial INH Flat Race.
Bud Fox caught the eye during February winning a 3m point-to-point and makes for plenty of appeal.
Eagle Of Destiny ran well when resuming finishing 1.75L second in a 2m jumpers flat event at Thurles. Holds claims.
Galileo Sand managed third that day at Thurles. Might feature.
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