REST OF CARD PREVIEW:ANTICIPATION OF a five-day festival that boasts 11 Grade One races and almost €2.2 million in prize money is building ahead of this afternoon's 3.40pm start but one man who could be forgiven some feelings of dread is Davy Condon.
The Cork-born jockey faces what might be classified as the unenviable job of getting Zaarito around the three miles-plus of the Growise Champion Novice Chase.
Colm Murphy’s horse is high-class when he manages to stand up but in seven starts over fences this season he has fallen four times, including last time in the Powers Gold Cup when looking to be going like a winner.
Condon’s conundrum is that Zaarito’s class gives him a first-rate chance of winning if he negotiates the fences but that is turning into quite an “if”.
“Hopefully the change in ground will make a difference,” Murphy said yesterday. “The going (heavy) probably found him out at Fairyhouse and he is jumping well at home.”
In the circumstances though, and especially on the quickening ground, China Rock could represent a touch of value in the third Grade One pot of the day.
The first is the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle which can present Paul Townend with an early opportunity to justify 13 to 8 favourite odds to be the leading rider of the week.
Barry Geraghty is a 9 to 4 next best in betting and he will be on the likely favourite General Miller who overhauled Menorah at Aintree less than two weeks ago, having unseated his rider at the first in the Supreme at Cheltenham last month.
“I can ask him to do this because he didn’t have a race at Cheltenham so he is only having two quick runs, not three,” said General Miller’s trainer Nicky Henderson who always brings a formidable team to Punchestown.
Blackstairmountain has also run since the Supreme when looking to have Luska Lad beaten at Fairyhouse only for that rival to rally close home.
Ruby Walsh felt he launched his challenge too early on the very heavy ground that day and on these conditions, and with Townend at his nerveless best, Blackstairmountain can defeat the British favourite.
Patrick Mullins is three clear of Nina Carberry (44-41) in the race for the amateur riders title and his engagement for Baby Whizz, trained by his Uncle Tom, in the €100,000 Goffs Land Rover Bumper looks significant.
Blueberry Boy, runner-up to Golden Silver over fences last time, will relish both the track and the ground when he attempts to exploit an almost 2st lower rating over hurdles in the two mile handicap.
