Although only four runners contest the Gold Cup on Punchestown Festival 2025 day 2, the feature steeplechase promises to be a cracker. As the third of three more Grade 1s on Wednesday, 30 April, another absorbing card of Irish jumps action is in store.
Supporting races include the Irish Champion Bumper and a long-distance Champion Novice Hurdle featuring Cheltenham winners Bambino Fever and Jasmin De Vaux respectively. On top of that are two Grade 3s with a handicap chase and mares only bumper.
The Punchestown Gold Cup sees Galopin Des Champs bid to end his hoodoo here against King George hero Banbridge, Monty’s Star and Spillane’s Tower, who won over course and distance as a novice during this meeting 12 months ago.
A small but select field, then, and horse racing betting sites provide plenty of variety for punters. Enter our experts for their views on the best of the action in the Emerald Isle. Read on see their thoughts and Wednesday wagers from this end of jumps season bash.
Punchestown Festival 2025 Day 2 Preview for Wednesday, 30 April
4:15 – 2m 7f 192y Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle
Honesty Policy is totally unexposed as a stayer, but clearly could improve for it based on how he shaped. Jasmin De Vaux doesn’t hurdle that well, but still tops official ratings for this contest and looks the obvious pick of the Closutton quartet. Elliott runs three in total himself with Cardcounter proving his stamina at Navan last time.
His mare Familiar Dreams was disappointing during the Grand National meeting at Aintree. Mullins has given Luckinthecity time to get over a fall from Cork in December. He has more upside than Jarrive De Mee, who has only won minor races at long odds-on. Course and distance winner Argento Boy disappointed at both Cheltenham and Aintree. Fleur In The Park hasn’t won a graded race in five attempts.
4:50 – 2m 132y Grade 1 Irish Champion Bumper
She stays and already has a course win over further under her belt. She goes well under Jody Townend and looks a real prospect for hurdling next term. Colcannon is the main danger for Noel Meade, meanwhile, after winning the other graded bumper during the Dublin Racing Festival. Bambino Fever has beaten many of the same horses, however, and receives a 7lb mares allowance.
Copacabana and Kalypso’chance must bounce back from disappointing displays at Cheltenham, meanwhile, leaving Ross O’Sullivan’s experienced Switch From Diesel as potential each-way value. Classical Creek has something to find with his owner-stable companion. Edward Power’s Simply South West makes up the numbers.
5:30 – 3m 213y Grade 1 Punchestown Gold Cup
A galloping and testing track over this far may stretch the stamina of Banbridge, who won the Punchestown Champion Chase 12 months ago. Joseph O’Brien saw his Kempton specialist struggle to back up on those King George heroics in the Cheltenham equivalent of this.
While Galopin Des Champs ran second there when denied a hat-trick by Inothewayurthinkin, SPILLANE’S TOWER has been left fresh for this by Jimmy Mangan and beat Monty’s Star over course and distance in 2024. As a seven-year-old, he’s youngest in the line-up and, if forgiven the King George flop, ran a blinder when pushing Fact To File in the John Durkan here in November.
6:05 – 2m 4f 80y Grade 3 Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase
𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐆𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩 👊@HenrydeBromhead‘s 11-4f seals the deal with a crisp leap at the last in the 2m4½f handicap chase @punchestownrace @rachaelblackmor clearly enjoyed that one 🫶 pic.twitter.com/ecySuNlnEm
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 1, 2024
Last year’s runner-up MUST BE OBEYED looks weighted to go one better in an edition of this handicap on Punchestown Festival 2025 day 2 lacking many form horses. Thomas Gibney’s charge has a 3lb lower mark than 12 months ago. Must Be Obeyed is 8lb better off with re-opposing winner Lets Go Champ, so should turn the tables with just a couple of lengths to find.
Elliott’s string should go well from the bottom half of the handicap, meanwhile. If Mars Harper and Riaan can reproduce their respective fourth and sixth place finishes from the Festival Plate at Cheltenham, then they have chances. In-form Lightkeeper seeks a hat-trick, meanwhile, following recent successes.
Mullins mount James Du Berlais did best of these in the Topham, so may atone for last year’s fall. Topweight Blue Lord and Adamantly Chosen need revivals, though. Making a case for Cromwell pair The King Of Prs and Visionarian isn’t easy either with both seemingly in the grip of the handicapper.
6:35 – 2m 132y Grade 3 Mares Bumper
From G1 Flat winners to Aintree Festival success, @ptwomeyracing & @wjlee24786 can do it all! 🙌
They combine to take G2 @Goffs1866 Mares’ Bumper with SEO LINN (IRE), 5yo bred by Glashare House Stud & sired by @coolmorestud Order Of St George (IRE). 🇮🇪pic.twitter.com/Eoz42UpL1K
— ITM (@IREthoroughbred) April 3, 2025
Old rivals Carrigmoornaspruce and Amen Kate found themselves split by Future Prospect at Fairyhouse last time. Declan Queally’s mare looks best of them. Good Girl Kathleen and Rock On By are last day winners on the upgrade here, yet lack the class demonstrated by the favourite.
Both represent decent yards in Emmet Mullins and Paul Nolan respectively, but the lack of penalty for Seo Linn after scoring at a higher level clinches the argument. Twomey books crack amateur Barry O’Neill for the ride and she should complete her hat-trick here.
