How To Bet £20 on day one of the Punchestown Festival

It seems unlikely that many Grade One prizes are going to slip through Willie Mullins’ net at the Punchestown Festival this week.

The serial Irish champion is responsible for 11 of the 16 runners in the three races at the highest level on Tuesday and the message is clear: if one Mullins runner doesn’t beat you, then another probably will.

You are not going to get rich backing Facile Vega or Energumene to win their respective races on day one, which they should win barring mishaps, but the 5-1 on offer about the yard's Classic Getaway landing the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (6.35) warrants a second look.

Things have not gone completely to plan since he changed hands for £570,000 after winning his sole outing in a point but he was marking time over hurdles last season and made a cracking start over fences when upstaging his smart stablemate, Minella Cocooner, at Gowran in late November.

He would also have finished ahead of Journey With Me had that rival not fallen two out that day, and that runner heads the market here at a general 11-4.

Classic Getaway has evidently had an issue or two in the intervening five months as he’s not run since, but the upside is that he will be fresh and we know he can go well after a break. Moreover, he seems certain to relish moving up to three miles, whereas the opposition all have stamina questions to answer.

Paul Townend stays loyal to Appreciate It, but it might be wise to not read too much into that, given that Danny Mullins partnered Classic Getaway at Gowran, plus when placed at this meeting last year.

Mullins Sr also has four runners in the Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle (4.50) – the pick of them looking to be the unexposed Bialstok – but preference is for Telecon, a 12-1 chance trained by Mark Fahey.

This six-year-old still has something to learn about jumping but a blunder at the final flight couldn’t prevent him winning a 19-runner contest in commanding style at Fairyhouse couple of weeks ago after almost eight months off.

He went off at 14-1 but he didn’t go unbacked that afternoon and, in truth, his supporters had few anxious moments as he travelled smoothly and breezed into the lead.

Telecon is 10lb higher in the ratings but he’s earned that extra burden and, having had only four starts over hurdles, there should be more to come, especially if his jumping can become more polished.

My other bet on the card is going to be Enfranchise in the opening Howden Insurance Brokers Mares Novice Hurdle.

I doubt few will give her a second look as she will be making her hurdling bow in what looks a completive Listed contest.

However, in terms of overall races run, Enfranchise has had 18 starts and boasts more experience than all bar Dame Rapide in this 14-runner field, so I’m not overly worried about that.

She was a model of consistency on the Flat and ran as well as she’s ever done (on the softest ground she’s encountered) when runner-up in the 17-runner Old Newton Cup at Haydock when last seen in action.

Rated 91 on the level, she should do well in this sphere if showing an aptitude for jumping. She’s a half-stster to Ennistown, an eight-time winner over hurdles/fences, so that is encouraging.

Clearly, a leap of faith is required to think she can beat rivals with hurdling experience and some solid form in the book. But her Flat form suggests she could be the equal of them all, so I’m happy to have a punt at the 40-1 on offer.

3.40 Punchestown: Enfranchise £2 each-way at 40-1 with Coral and BetVictor

4.50 Punchestown: Telecon £3 win and £2 each-way at 12-1 with Ladbrokes (five places)

6.35 Punchestown: Classic Getaway £5 win at 5-1 with Coral and Ladbrokes

Plus £1 each-way doubles and a £1 each-way treble on the above