Noel Meade usually worth noting Punts

no problem whatsoever getting a drink in naas both before and after racing a fiver return on the bus from naas which runs till there is nobody left.

Very difficult for punters. Lots of match-ups, and very few each-way comfort blankets. Level staking you pretty much are going to have to guarantee 2/3 winners. The handicaps on the first two days look horrendous, and on the first day there are two 4yo bumpers which for the majority are just guesswork. Good racing, but big advantage bookmakers.

I usually go for the four weekdays and love it; the highlight of my year. Like to elsewhere in Ireland for the weekend after. Stay at the Clarence in Dublin and get a cab or the special bus to and from. Its like Cheltenham without the queues and the ****s. Many of the same horses. Top stuff!

punts its not as simple as that.i would argue there is value in backing the mullins  bigger price horses .factor in that patrick has 7 rides left against professionals in his quest to beat jamie codd then your left wondering who has the first choice pick. there must also be a doubt about the fitness of townsend which complicates a murky mullins scenario even more. one thing  dont dismiss the pricier mullins horses as im sure he will have double digit priced winners.

Willie Mullins:


We run two in the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle over 2 miles. Paul has picked Blue Lord who fell at the last when destined for the runner-up position behind Appreciate It in the Supreme at Cheltenham. He is a course and distance winner here and his form in Ireland and England stacks up. Patrick rides Echoes In Rain who was hugely impressive at Fairyhouse last time. On official ratings there is nothing between our two and hopefully one of them will do the business.

We have seven chances in the 2 mile handicap hurdle over 2 miles. Whiskey Sour (Hugh Morgan) is returning after a long break and it is hard to see him being competitive here. Gentleman De Mee (Jody McGarvey) ran very free when finishing unplaced at Cheltenham so we are dropping him back in trip here in the hope that it will help him settle. He needs to leave his Cheltenham run behind if he is to get involved here. Ruaille Buaille (Danny) is a course and distance winner and ran a very promising race when third at Fairyhouse last time. That form gives her a big chance in an open race. Dysart Diamond (Donie McInerney) won at Leopardstown at Christmas but she has had two poor runs since. Getaway Gorgeous (Bryan Cooper) has the advantage of being a course and distance winner. However, she has just been disappointing during the winter but maybe the spring weather will suit her better. Jazzaway (Conor McNamara) hasn’t run since finishing second at the Galway Festival but that form looks very good in the context of today’s race. Her homework has been good and if the lack of a recent doesn’t catch her out she could be good each-way value. Hybery (Brian Hayes) has been very disappointing and wears cheekpieces for the first time today. Ideally we would prefer to run him over a longer trip but he is not guaranteed to get into the longer races later in the week.

We have three in the Grade 1 Champion Chase over 2 miles. Paul takes the ride on Chacun Pour Soi and his form over this trip looks the best on offer here. Rachael won the 2m 4f Ryanair at Cheltenham on Allaho and she takes the ride again here. We will see today if he has the pace for two miles against specialist two milers and this will give us an indication what direction we go with him next season. We are taking the hood off Cilaos Emery (Brian Hayes) today. He possibly needs another half a mile at this stage of his career but we are hoping he might pick up some nice place money.

We have two runners in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper over 2 miles. Adamantly Chosen (Jody Townend) is making his debut and is closely related to Adamant Approach. He is a real summer bumper/hurdle type who will run a solid race here. The track and ground will suit. Hemlock (Patrick) was fifth at Clonmel earlier this month and that form wouldn’t be good enough here. However, he has improved since and we are hoping he will get into the firing line today.


We have three of the four declared runners for the Grade 1 Champion Novice Chase over 3 miles. Franco De Port (Bryan Cooper) has a lot to find on form but we are going out in trip here to see how he copes. He is settling better as he gets older and we think he will be a staying chaser going forward. Monkfish (Paul) is unbeaten this season. He wasn’t as impressive as he can be at Cheltenham but hopefully he will get back to his fluent jumping and galloping style today. Colreevy (Danny) comes out ahead on ratings in this fascinating contest. The trip will suit but the drying ground won’t. She is in foal to Walk In The Park and hopefully she will give a good account on what will be her last run.

Hara Kiri (Patrick) goes for the 4yo bumper. He was third on his debut at Gowran in January. The ground was testing that day and he will be much more suited by the faster conditions here. We are expecting a good run. We also have the first reserve, Glowing Account, who is a really nice type by Le Harve.

small treble today

echoes in Rain - some mare this, surprised paul hasnt picked her
Nube Negra -  like this horse and still improving from a long layoff. skeltons going to get his freebie
envoi

Always has been one Festival to many for me although i must admit i wont miss the clash between Envoi Allen V The Jumping Wardrobe....If there is any Justice Envoi will take him apart and i will be backing him to do so.

Gain De Cause 9th each time it has run. Full marks for consistency. Is that as good as he is? That's the guessing game. Last time he seemed to be in an ideal position behind the leaders, but then lost that position for no obvious reason. Testing the water? Today will answer that question. I haven't backed it, preferring to waste a few quid on the two bumpers on the each-way extra. Market would suggest no superstars in either race.

Yes punts tough day for punting, as anticipated. All I can see is a decent double in the coin toss races. Echoes in rain and monkfish for me. My confidence increased when I saw that horrendous goose in the mirror "tip" the other 2. That's blue lord and envoi allen carrying an extra stone.

Exactly slickster. We will be clutching to our multiple bets and hoping for the best.

Bookies love those bets but in my opinion Mullins will dominate and this is the only opportunity I sense.

G/L with your bet whatever you back!

robo's kidnapped him.

Penzance whats the ransom for the "kidnapped one" an Astra Zeneca shot and a bag of chips.....

Had Go on gentleman de mee in handicap
Pulled far too hard in pipe race
Hopefully sit of the speed be too good
15/2

coupla small  forcasts with the front 2 and uhtred also

ash, willie doesn't even know what will win (if you believe his write up).

job done baldrick

Impressive from Echo there

be careful later in week as well, booby said last night if townsend has a few winners early putting blackmore out of contention, they,ll put mullins up on more fancied horses outside grade ones to help him beat codd to title