Punchestown Festival Tips: Best Bets For Day Two

Day one at Punchestown, as expected, saw some impressive performances, as well as some big-priced winners, much to the delight of betting sites.

As we move into day two, another high-class card awaits.

The Punchestown Gold Cup is the feature, but the Grade One Novice Hurdle over three miles and the Champion Bumper will also be entertaining contests.

Here, we pick out our three best bets throughout the day.

Punchestown Festival Day 2 Tips

Tip 1: 14:30 - Ballysax Hank 0.5pts Each-Way - 13/2 With Bet365 (6 Places)

In a wide-open contest, many runners will fancy their chances in this Handicap Hurdle.

With 25 runners set to line up, you can expect plenty of hustle and bustle, and potential winners will need to have plenty of luck in running.

Our eye is caught in this one by the Gavin Cromwell-trained Ballysax Hank.

The six-year-old has been mixing it between hurdling and chasing this season, and has shown glimpses of improvement, particularly since joining his new trainer.

After winning at Downpatrick last month, he is rated 128 over fences, and given that he is 116 over hurdles, the handicapper has been lenient.

Some horse racing betting sites are paying out to six places, so he should be a cracking each-way bet.

Tip 2: 16:50 - Copacabana 1pt Win - 13/2 With Ladbrokes

The Champion Bumper is not usually a race to get involved with, but Copacabana deserves a second chance after his Cheltenham disappointment.

Willie Mullins' five-year-old was well fancied going into the festival but let down his followers.

He could never get going, and I think he did not enjoy the hustle and bustle of a big field.

He should be much more at home with just six rivals in this, so hopefully he can bounce back to his best.

Bambino Fever, an impressive winner at Cheltenham, is a big danger again.

She is three from three in bumpers, and she may be hard to stop with the 7lbs mares' allowance.

Tip 3: 17:30 - Spillane's Tower 1pt Win - 5/2 With Befred

Galopin Des Champs is the one they must all beat in the coveted Punchestown Gold Cup.

The two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner couldn't bring up the hat-trick last month, but still ran a big race to finish second.

However, there are slight concerns about his record at this track, as he has been beaten in his last four appearances here.

For that reason, and the fact that his Cheltenham exploits may have taken a lot out of him, it might be better to take him on.

Spillane's Tower will be the fresh horse in the race, having skipped Cheltenham, which may give him the edge over his three rivals.

His connections have been bullish about his chances, and, unlike Galopin Des Champs, he has a good record at the track.

* Prices correct at time of publication (7pm, 29 April)