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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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Major gamble on Dirar
Dirar is the name on all punters lips this morning as the Gordon Elliott-trained gelding has been the subject of a major plunge for the featured Guinness Galway Hurdle.
Generally available at 8/1 in early trade, Barry Geraghty's mount is a best priced 5/1 and as low as 4/1 with a number of leading layers including Paddy Power and William Hill.
Geraghty, who has yet to win the Ballybrit showpiece, is virtually living on fresh air to get down to 10st4lb and punters are obviously latching onto this pointer.
The five-year-old completed a hat-trick in handicap hurdles last summer, and has been lightly raced this year with Galway in mind.
The son of King's Best impressed over hurdles at Listowel last month, and is also rated 100 on the Flat having scoring on the level at Ayr last time.
Dermot Weld bids to add to his extraordinary record at Ballybrit this week with New Phase Andrew McNamara's mount is certainly not without a chance having caught the eye at Limerick last time and is generally a 10/1 shot.
The Weld-trained Force Of Habit will be a banker for many this afternoon in the 1m4f handicap (5.30pm). The Dalakhani gelding won a novice hurdle here on Monday evening, and is a top priced 5/4 with Victor Chandler to follow up back on the Flat.
Others to attract interest in this race are Prospectorous (20/1 to 12/1 with William Hill) along with Bay Swallow and Malande (both around the 12/1 mark).
The 7f fillies handicap (3.35pm) has a wide open look but one to note for money is the Liam McAteer-trained Tellelle (12/1 to 7/1 with William Hill). Cooper's Crest is an uneasy favourite in the following 2m4f novice hurdle, with Bacher Boy proving popular (generally 3/1) and Eoin Griffin's St Devote has been slashed from 8/1 to 5/1 with Paddy Power.