Key Points
- Today’s betting tip was clearly targeted for this race
- His latest run can be marked up significantly
- First time blinkers now join the tongue tie applied last time out
It’s Tuesday but this is not any old Tuesday, it’s the opening day of the 2026 Punchestown Festival! The first race is a Hunter Chase which doesn’t interest me but I’m certainly interested in the €100,000 Series Final that takes place second on the racecard. I’m sure many have been laid out for this valuable Handicap, but I’m sweet on the chances of one in particular. Given his owner and jockey, it wouldn’t surprise me if he saw plenty of money too.
If this is the first time you are reading one of my articles, I’m RacingGav and I’m the resident horse racing expert here at Betting.co.uk. I have been in this role since March 2025 and I publish
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Circling back to antepost betting tips, yesterday I put out an article containing
a 13/2 Double for the Punchestown Festival. This bet combines a contender for the Champion Chase on Day 1 with a selection for the Gold Cup on Day 2. So check out that article straight after this one, to catch the prices before the first horse runs!
Betting advice
- 15:05 Punchestown -
Sticwiththeprocess
@ 15/2 (6 places) -
1pt each way
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Stick with the green and gold silks!
If there is a valuable pot to be won, whether at Graded level or in a competitive Handicap, the green and gold silks of JP McManus are sure to be there. It’s not exactly a rare occurrence for him to take the top prize home either. I think we may well see more of the same with Sticwiththeprocess here at Punchestown and in this article, I’ll be breaking down my reasons why.
Sticwiththeprocess to have been targeted for this race
Sticwiththeprocess was a disappointing favourite in his Point-To-Point and didn’t show heaps in his opening two Maiden Hurdles over 2m, he then took a backwards step on his next start when stepped up to 2m 3.5f. Switched to handicap company he was then a distant third before he was just denied a short head at Fairyhouse this time last year.
After a 198-day break, he was brought back to the track and switched to Maiden company, as well as dropped back to 2m and he won in good style. The money was down and he justified the market support. After his main rival came down at the last, he idled in front, so I think he was worth more than the winning margin that day.
I’d say they then pencilled the plan to target this Series Final, with his next run then coming in a qualifier for the race over today’s C&D. He was sent off 5/2 favourite and ridden by Mark Walsh but it was the other JP McManus runner, Sons Of Anarchy, who went on to win. Stickwiththeprocess ran into third on the run-in and that qualified him for today. He was then fifth of five in Novice company, which looks too bad to be true, perhaps due to a 54-day break. But, then he came second last time, which I’ll move onto next.
Sticwiththeprocess’ latest run can be marked up significantly
Last time out at Fairyhouse over 2m 4f, Sticwiththeprocess had a tongue tie added to his usual cheekpieces. He raced in midfield but travelled eye-catchingly well. However, he was then not fluent at three out where he lost momentum and ground. Many would have faded away tamely after that but he came straight back onto the bridle, looking menacing once again.
He was disputing third at two out and then he was hampered by a faller at the last. Again, you would expect him to drop away here given plenty had gone wrong but Mark Walsh asked him for an effort and he responded readily to secure second place, behind the runaway winner - Katie Daniels. I’m not convinced that would have been his day regardless, given the €11,780 for first place.
Given how much went wrong, I think you can mark the run up significantly and his distant second (seven lengths) that day looks the perfect result to me. He has scooped €3,780 in prize money for finishing second but his handicap mark of 114 has been left unaltered for this Series Final. For comparison this race is worth €100,000 in total and €58,900 to the winner. That makes it exactly five times more valuable for the winner than the race he competed in the last day.
First time blinkers join the tongue tie used last time out
With such a valuable prize on offer, I would be expecting to see the best version of Sticwiththeprocess and that is only hinted at further with first time blinkers added to the tongue tie worn at Fairyhouse. Mark Walsh also has the choice of two JP McManus runners in this valuable race and he has opted to ride Sticwiththeprocess over the Jessica Harrington trained - Powerful. Despite being rated 13lb inferior to Powerful, Sticwiththeprocess also carries the first string jockey silks with the white cap.
Considering how much went wrong last time out, I think there is significant scope of progress of this unaltered mark of 114, especially with the new headgear added. Mark Walsh could have jumped ship to Powerful but he retains the partnership with Sticwiththeprocess here who has a lovely racing weight of 10st 12lb today.
Given that the latest run at Fairyhouse came after a break of 80 days, I would not be surprised if Ted Walsh had left a bit to work on fitness wise too, with this Series Final in mind. Therefore, with that run now under his belt, he should be cherry ripe for today’s race. If I’m correct in my thinking that he’s been lined up for this race from some way out, then he has a huge chance of taking the €58,900 to the winner. However, with six places on offer, I’d be shocked if he wasn’t at least landing the place money for us.
Can Sticwiththeprocess get Punchestown off to a flyer?
With these big festivals, you always want to get started on the right foot. It’s five days packed full of racing and given the amount of racing and the fact it is at the end of the season, it can often be a money spinner for the bookmakers. Therefore, it would be fantastic to land a big blow against the bookies with a 1pt Each Way 15/2 winner in just the second race of the meeting and with our very first bet.
I think Stickwiththeprocess has a huge chance here, especially if he has been lined up for this as I expect that he has. I think his campaigning looks as if he has been and with him just finishing third in his qualifier and being beaten twice since, he comes here more under the radar than he may have been. Given the fact this race is worth five times more to the winner than the last day, it makes perfect sense for them to be patient with him and to strike here instead. The fact that the first time blinkers are applied now, only adds to my confidence that today is his day.
In terms of negatives, this is a huge field of 25 runners and I’m sure plenty of them have been laid out for this valuable prize, so this race is far from a gimme. He also has to prove that he will enjoy the blinkers and respond to them and the same can be said for the better ground he faces here, given that this will be the fastest ground that he would have faced in his career.
All elements considered, I think he has a big chance here! With the field size, there is an element of luck required but if he has it on his side, he could well land this race. However, barring major mishaps, I’d certainly think he’ll be involved at the finish and I’d be shocked and disappointed if he wasn’t up to finishing in the first six. Therefore, I think at 15/2 with six places being paid, he’s well worth a solid 1pt Each Way bet and hopefully we see him take a big step forward here!
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