After the first three amazing days of racing, the penultimate day of the Punchestown festival is on today. There is a few interesting races to look out for. Here are Paul Townend's picks of the day.
Yesterday saw mainly all favourites take the win. El Fabiolo comfortably won the Two Mile Novice Chase. He cruised away to victory as no one could fight with him.
⭐️ EL FABIOLO SHINES AGAIN ⭐️
🏆 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase
🏆 Arkle
🏆 Irish Arkle
The six-year-old cruises clear of his rivals at the @punchestownrace Festival to record his third Grade One victory of the season 😍@WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend pic.twitter.com/UQ6lShueDX— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 27, 2023
In an exciting finish to the end of the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle. Townend's pick for this race, Klassical Dream narrowly won it in front of Asterion Forlonge and Sire Du Berlais. This is the fourth victory for Willie Mullins' Klassical Dream at Punchestown including three Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle in a row.
Paul Townend's picks
One of today's races is the Champion Hurdle. Paul Townend has no doubt that State Man (1/3) is the clear favourite for this race despite not winning at Cheltenham:
He [State Man] ran into that big shot that is Constitution Hill at Cheltenham but he's been beating the rest of them well all year. I'd be very disappointed if he didn't beat them again. I actually think he underperformed slightly at Cheltenham. Throughout the race I wasn't too happy with him. I think he's head and shoulders above everything bar Constitutional Hill. I think that State Man is one of my strongest riders of the week.
Day Four of the Punchestown Festival is here!
Hear from @PTownend & @92bryan92 ahead of another big day of racing 🐎
| In Partnership with https://t.co/un1DzIsA4a pic.twitter.com/23bxacyZPX— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) April 28, 2023
Another interesting race on today at Punchestown is the Two and a Half Mile Novice Hurdle with several big entries. However Townend sees Impaire Et Passe (3/10) as the favourite on the basis of his Cheltenham win:
On the bare base of Cheltenham, Impaire Et Passe is the standout one again. I was very impressed with Impaire Et Passe. He fairly took up the hill and he's an exciting one for hurdlong or chasing.
SEE ALSO: Willie Mullins Pays Tribute To Klassical Dream's Late Owner After Punchestown Win
