Punchestown Festival day 3 racing tips: Best free bets for Thursday, May 1
Thisistheway ridden by John Shinnick on their way to winning the Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final at the 2025 Punchestown Festival
We are in the middle of the Punchestown Festival and there's still plenty of great racing action to come. Can the Planet Sport tipsters dig up some more winners on Thursday, May 1?
Two Grade 1s for Thursday's eight-race card from Punchestown, including the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (1725) and the Champion Stayers Hurdle (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)
Thursday's Punchestown Festival tips:
14:30 (Punchestown) The Other Mozzie
15:05 (Punchestown) Tullyhill
15:40 (Punchestown) Vanillier
16:15 (Punchestown) Jeriko Du Reponet
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16:50 (Punchestown) Sixandahalf
17:25 (Punchestown) Majborough
18:00 (Punchestown) Teahupoo
18:35 (Punchestown) Ksar Fatal
14:30 (Punchestown) The Other Mozzie
The Other Mozzie showed best scoring by 4L a 2m premier handicap chase at Ayr and must be respected making hurdle return in the Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle.
Janes Harbour brings a progressive profile. Finished 2L second attempting a 2m maiden hurdle at Limerick. Big chance.
Mercury Mission bids for a hat-trick after winning at the same Limerick fixture running 6L clear in a 2m novice handicap hurdle. Holds claims.
Free Flow looked impressive when a 7L winner of a Thurles 2m maiden hurdle in March and might feature.
15:05 (Punchestown) Tullyhill
Tullyhill indicated promise first two chase starts with a pair of runner-up efforts at Fairyhouse preceding a pulled up result at Thurles.
Willie Mullins' seven-year-old could improve to be the class act in the Frontline Security Handicap Chase.
Spinning Web bids for a hat-trick after two Thurles victories including by 4.5L over 2m5f during March. Makes for plenty of appeal.
Champagne Mahler enhanced a promising profile scoring by 8L a 2m handicap chase at Gowran Park. In the mix. May follow up.
Mirazur West won a 2m1f Cork beginners chase recently. Interesting.
15:40 (Punchestown) Vanillier
After managing a 2023 Grand National second Vanillier arrives for the Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase in strong form after winning by 18L a cross-country event here over 3m1f, prior to a Cheltenham Festival third.
Finished fourteenth in the Grand National at Aintree this year and is proven over this course, so will be a leading contender.
The Goffer recorded a smart fourth behind the top pick in the 3m5f cross-country chase at the Cheltenham Festival before a solid national course third at Aintree tackling the 2m5f Topham.
Stealthy Tom was a close runner-up in this event two years ago and holds claims along with recent Fairyhouse winner Read To Return.
16:15 (Punchestown) Jeriko Du Reponet
The UK trainers have a strong hand in the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle especially Nicky Henderson with Jeriko Du Reponet.
This six-year-old was 1.75L second behind stablemate Doddiethegreat in the 3m Premier Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and is much more closely rated now. Both rate highly.
Bill Joyce is a G2 Novice hurdle winner. Going well prior to falling when tackling 3m1f at Aintree. Shortlist to make amends.
Beat The Bat produced an excellent fourth in the 2m5f Coral Cup Premier Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham six weeks back and might feature.
16:50 (Punchestown) Sixandahalf
Sixandahalf enhanced promising hurdle profile finishing second in the 2m1f G2 Dawn Run Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and will be a leading contender in the Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle.
The main danger comes from Willie Mullins' Karamoja who recorded a decent third attempting the 2m4f G1 Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse eleven days ago.
Karoline Banbou was sixth that day at Fairyhouse on deep ground. Showing plenty of potential this season and makes for appeal, while unbeaten hurdler Timetoshine looks one to note.
17:25 (Punchestown) Majborough
Majborough proved himself in the top-level winning by nine lengths in the G1 Irish Arkle Novice Chase at Leopardstown, prior to a close third in the G1 Arkle Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Willie Mullins' five-year-old is a class act and will be the one to beat in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase.
Only By Night out-performed odds in the aforementioned Cheltenham event when 0.75L second that day. Main danger set to confirm form.
Jeannot Lapin showed improvement two months ago when 8L second in the G3 Flyingbolt Novice Chase at Navan, so shouldn't be ignored.
Travelling over from the UK, Rubaud won the G2 Pendil Novices Chase at Kempton two starts ago and has place claims.
18:00 (Punchestown) Teahupoo
Teahupoo failed to replicate attempting the G1 Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when 1.75L second this time around, but remains a high-class performer in the division.
Proved an easy winner of the Champion Stayers Hurdle last year and Gordon Elliott's eight-year-old can retain his crown.
Hiddenvalley Lake was a surprise success in the G1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree, and should be respected to follow up.
Home By The Lee holds ability to go close having finished third in this last year. Can show best form.
Crambo won the G1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot three starts back and shouldn't be discounted.
18:35 (Punchestown) Ksar Fatal
Willie Mullins' Ksar Fatal made a winning rules debut during March scoring by nine lengths at Gowran Park and can score again in the JP & M Doyle (C & G) INH Flat Race.
El Cairos out-performed odds at the Cheltenham Festival (UK) when a good fifth attempting the 2m G1 Champion Bumper and has a big chance.
Dani Donadoni is another for the Mullins stable who caught the eye after a debut 7L success tackling 2m3f at Limerick. Makes for appeal.
He Can't Dance placed third among G2 company at Leopardstown before a Cheltenham eighth. Warrants a second look.
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