Punchestown Festival Day 2 Tips: Mullins mania on Wednesday?

It was a quiet start to the 2025 Punchestown Festival after a non-runner left me with just two runners on the opening card. One of those - Helvic Dream (11/1 each-way) - returned a little bit of money at least.

I think Wednesday's card looks friendlier on the punting front and I'm putting my faith in the all-conquering Willie Mullins for my Punchestown Festival Day 2 tips.

15:40 - Kaid d'Authie @ 7/2

It's easy to forget that earlier in the season, KAID D'AUTHIE was being talked up as one of Willie Mullins' top prospects in the novice hurdling division.

The five-year-old, bought by JP McManus after finishing fifth to stablemate Majborough on debut at Auteuil a couple of years back, fell early on British debut at Navan in early December, before making amends in a good-looking contest at Leopardstown over the Christmas period.

Between then and the Dublin Racing Festival, Mullins couldn't hide his admiration for the son of Choeur Du Nord, calling him a "top-notcher" and a "fine beast" who "could be anything".

However, in the days leading up to the DRF there was a significant level of uncertainty about his participation, let alone chances, and although he did line up in the Grade 1 over two miles won by subsequent Supreme hero Kopek Des Bordes, he duly underperformed.

Then, a month later, he was chucked into a red-hot Turners at the Cheltenham Festival and he was out the back from the word go, made a bad mistake at the first flight and never got into it. A write-off.

I am willing to forgive both performances and focus on what he did at Leopardstown prior, plus his reputation. Mullins doesn't speak that highly about horses for no reason.

After 49 days off the track and with the assistance of first-time cheekpieces, I'm prepared to chance a return to form - and if that's the case, he could be very hard to beat in what looks a modest affair aside from Gordon Elliott's American Mike.

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16:15 - Jasmin De Vaux @ 11/8

I expect Albert Bartlett hero JASMIN DE VAUX to take all the beating in the Grade 1 novice hurdle over three miles.

Mullins' six-year-old won the Champion Bumper at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival after just one start under rules, so plenty was expected of the Simon Munir & Isaac Souede-owned gelding over hurdles this term.

He won in spite of poor jumping on debut at Navan in December, before a bitterly-disappointing effort in the G1 Lawlor's Of Naas, where once again getting from A to B was a big issue.

That was less of an issue at the Dublin Racing Festival, but he was still well-beaten by stablemate Final Demand, and then he looked a completely new horse at Cheltenham last month.

He actually won the Bartlett quite easily in the end and he's had 47 days to recover, so he should be more than fresh enough coming to Punchestown.

Crucially, I think this is a poor Grade 1. Gordon Elliott's duo, Honesty Policy and Cardcounter, are nice types - particularly the latter - but at his best the selection is surely a cut above.

He's the Nap of the Day for me.

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17:30 - Galopin Des Champs @ 11/10

Finally, I'm backing GALOPIN DES CHAMPS to bounce back to winning ways after failing in his bid to win a third Cheltenham Gold Cup.

This is a strange feeling. Usually, I'm trying to oppose the nine-year-old son of Timos, especially round here at this time of year, but I can't see past him this time.

He's already beat Monty's Star twice this season and as fond as I am of that horse, I find it hard to see a different result. Banbridge would be interesting on his best form - his King George victory months ago - but he was very poor in the Gold Cup and I'm still far from convinced this is his optimum trip.

Spillane's Tower is the obvious danger. He was ahead of Galopin in the John Durkan at the start of the season, albeit over an inadequate trip for the selection who had an interrupted preparation, and his record at the track is very good. He's also fresh after a 125-day break.

However, he's still got a lot to prove to put it up to the favourite, who I suspect will get it all his own way again under Paul Townend and never see another rival.

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