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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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Alelchi Inois
© Photo Healy Racing
The Grade Three Deacy Gilligan Ballybrit Novice Chase headlines a seven-race National Hunt card which begins at 4.15. Willie Mullins' Alelchi Inois puts his unbeaten record over fences on the line in this two-mile-one-furlong event.
An exciting type, the French-bred has already tasted success at Galway, scoring over this trip at the Festival here at the end of July.
Alelchi Inois seems to have found his true vocation since launched over fences and is now three from three at this game.
His winner's penalties now mean that the Paul Townend-ridden Night Tango gelding must concede weight away all round, but he holds the likes of the 126-rated Howwoulduno on the form of his last victory. The last-named could now be helped by the addition of a first-time hood.
It is hardly surprising that point-to-point winner Enjoy Responsibly much like Alelchi Inois, has gone up a notch since tackling racecourse fences. He put up a career-best last time behind Fosters Cross and he needs to be respected.
Whatever the fate of Alelchi Inois, Mullins and Townend's other representative on the card, Most Peculiar should give the pair every chance of an earlier win in the Easyfix Rubber Products Novice Hurdle.
He has also been there and done that when it comes to the demands of Ballybrit, scoring a win here in a maiden in late July. That form has certainly been franked in the interim. Draco re-opposes but Most Peculiar is taken to confirm placings.
Elsewhere local trainer Norman Lee and rider Adrian Heskin could be the men to follow with Supreme Vic in the O'Leary Insurances Handicap Hurdle and Survival in the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase.
Meanwhile the addition of cheek-pieces could be of benefit to Behana in the concluding Jamie Kyne Memorial Mares Flat Race.