Exciting Trio of Grade 1s for Thursday Barry Geraghty will fancy his chances of at least a double on Thursday, day three of the Punchestown Festival. He teams up with both Iris´s Gift and Kicking King.Punters are faced with a couple of short priced favourites in two out of the three Grade 1 contests on an eight race card that begins at 2.10.Most valuable event of the day, the Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers Hurdle, sees Aintree scorers, Iris’s Gift and Rhinestone Cowboy lock horns in a fascinating clash.It is difficult to envisage something other than one of this duo returning to the number one berth but in truth Cheltenham Stayers winner, Iris’s Gift can’t be opposed.Baracouda has always looked a special horse and for Jonjo O’Neill’s grey to defeat the French horse in the Cotswolds marks him down as an exceptional animal. Holy Orders might fill the frame. Kicking King has run his heart out now at both Cheltenham and Fairyhouse only to come up just short. Tom Taaffe’s charge can now end the season on a high in the Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase.
