There has been significant support for two JP McManus-owned horses ahead of the opening day of the 2024 Punchestown Festival.
Recent Aintree scorer Mystical Power has seen his odds slashed into 7/4 from 11/4 with Boylesports in the opening Grade One of the meeting, the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle as he bids to claim revenge against his Cheltenham conqueror, Slade Steel.
The Galileo gelding out of superstar mare Annie Power will be the first significant dart fired by Willie Mullins on Tuesday as he looks set for another dominant few days at the Co Kildare venue. The Closutton handler will field five favourites on the opening day with his two runners carrying the green and gold silks of McManus having the bookies facing major liabilities.
READ MORE:Punchestown Festival 2024 day 1 full race card and tips - list of runners Tuesday
Dinoblue finds herself on many a betting slip alongside Mystical Power and she has been heavily backed from 5/2 into even money to get back to winning ways having finished second on her last two starts, including to Limerick Lace in the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham.
Reverting back to two-miles, the seven-year-old mare will face Champion Chase winner Captain Guinness, who has been very weak in the betting, drifting out to 6/1 (from 3/1).
Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “It’s only day one of the Punchestown Festival but the punters have already come out to play. We’ve seen massive gambles on two JP McManus runners today and if they both win, it could be a long week for the bookies.”
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