Lucky 15 Tips: Day 2 high octane action from Punchestown

It's the second day of Punchestown's Festival, an EIGHT-race Wednesday card that kicks in at 14:30. No question then about our Lucky 15 tips - they're coming again from County Kildare.

Three Grade 1 contests, two at G2 level, and some mouth-watering supporting heats. What a midweek treat. Winners were tough to find yesterday - let's hope for better luck this afternoon.

Horse Racing odds

16:50 - Dromard @ 7/2

Our first contest is a terrific Champion Bumper featuring the winner of the Cheltenham Festival equivalent, Mourne Rambler. It might be the ultimate folly, but I'm opposing him with a five-year-old Doctor Dino gelding from the mighty Willie Mullins yard, ridden of course by son Patrick - Dromard.

The selection has run just once, a bloodless saunter at Gowran Park 53 days ago. He won by a yawning 21l, recording a very creditable Racing Post rating (127 - just five spots less than Mourne Rambler achieved at Cheltenham, who was having his third race).

There's every indication that Dromard will improve further, and being by Well Chosen, an ordinary middle-distance horse on the flat proving to be a good National Hunt sire, is likely to be no handicap.

The dam is by a far smarter G1 middle-distance performer, and this yielding ground should suit just fine (Dromard won on heavy at Gowran). Willie's saddling four, but I'll be surprised if any are the equal or better of Patrick's mount.

17:25 - Nouvotic @ 6/1

A G3 handicap chase, over 2m 4.5f.

Willie Mullins has six entered up in this, and perhaps foolishly I'm with none of 'em! Our selection is Nouvotic, a seven-year-old French-bred gelding trained by the brilliant Henry De Bromhead, and ridden by the equally outstanding Darragh O'Keefe.

Nouvotic has won two of his four steeplechases, and three races in all. He's already a far better-rated chaser than hurdler, and arrives here in career-best order after winning a Wexford chase at around this trip, gamely, by 1.75l; giving every indication that more could well be forthcoming.

He's up 8lb for that win and of course up in class, but the nature of the race means his racing weight is just 10st 6lb and that could well be seen as an advantage.

18:05 - Gaelic Warrior @ 6/5

And so to the Punchestown Gold Cup, and the majestic Cheltenham hero looking to add to his glittering CV with another huge bauble.

Gaelic Warrior is eight years young and at the very height of his powers. Eleven wins from 22 starts, seven coming over fences, and is in many eyes sneaking in to the Kauto Star/Best Mate-type conversations as to joining the ranks of some of the very best fencers of the last 30 years.

At Cheltenham he recorded not only an authoritative 8l victory, but a Racing Post rating of 182. He comes into this level-weights G1 on a new official BHA mark of 176 (Kauto reached the dizzy heights of 193, while Best Mate peaked at 175).

Wherever he sits, or will eventually sit, in the great scheme of things, on Cheltenham evidence he's just getting better and better. Impossible for me to oppose, and I hope he treats us to the kind of show we were fortunate enough to enjoy in the Cotswolds.

18:35 - Glen's Anthem @ 2/1

This is a mares' bumper, and I can't resist another WP Mullins/son Patrick combo conveyance - Glen's Anthem.

The five-year-old daughter of English and Irish Derby hero Harzand has had one run so far, a comfortable 7.5l win at Navan 39 days ago. This wasn't in a race confined to the fairer sex, so beating the boys makes the performance even more meritorious.

Willie once again has multiple entries, very dangerous ones at that, but one assumes Patrick has the last word among the ones he's ridden, which is all but one of them (Latosca Du Houx).

If all four of our selections won, today's notional 50p win Lucky 15, at the prices indicated (they can of course fluctuate), would return around £280 for a £7.50 total stake. If you can improve upon our selections (of course you can) - then go for it!

Lucky 15 tips with Betfred Insights.