New rider for Stayers favourite Teahupoo with Jordan Gainford out injured

Day three of the Punchestown festival is headlined by the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (5.25), where Sire Du Berlais will bid to continue his domination of the staying ranks following success at Cheltenham and Aintree. 

Here, we look ahead to the action and keep you updated with everything you need to know before the first race at 3.40.

Jordan Gainford has been ruled out of his ride on hot favourite Teahupoo for the feature race on day three of the Punchestown festival, just days after returning to action following an injury. 

The jockey was stood down from his remaining rides on Wednesday after being unseated from Perfect Attitude in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle and was subsequently ruled out of action again on Thursday just an hour before the opening race. 

Gainford, who had three rides this week since his return from injury during the Cheltenham Festival, was due to partner 2-1 favourite Teahupoo in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle, with the ride now going to Darragh O'Keeffe. 

The late call-up will be O'Keeffe's first ride on the Robcour-owned six-year-old, who had been well backed this morning to return to winning ways after finishing third at the Cheltenham Festival on his last start. 

Gainford was booked for three more rides on Thursday, with Gordons Aura now due to be ridden by Sean Flanagan in the opening 2m handicap hurdle (3.40) and Donagh Meyler picking up the ride on Call Me Lyreen in the following 2m handicap chase (4.15). He was also due to partner Optional Mix in the 2m5f mares' handicap chase (7.10). 

Teahupoo will be hoping to overturn the form with festival winner Sire Du Berlais, who seeks to continue his stellar form in the top-level staying contest, having proved his 33-1 success in March was no fluke by landing the Liverpool Hurdle 12 days ago. 

The 11-year-old has drifted to 7-1 (from 11-2) to sit fourth in the market behind Monkfish and Klassical Dream, who aims to land his third consecutive success in the 2m7½f race for Willie Mullins. 

However, the biggest market mover for the Grade 1 test is Meet And Greet, who has been backed into 16-1 (from 28) for the stable of Oliver McKiernan. 

The ride of Phillip Enright is yet to score in seven starts since February 2022 but has only finished outside the top four on one of those occasions, mostly recently claiming fourth behind Sire Du Berlais at Aintree.

Lucinda Russell runner backed into favouritism to land British blow

Punters are rallying behind Douglas Talking to become the first British success at this year's Punchestown festival after backing him into favouritism for the €50,000 Pigsback.com Handicap Chase. 

The seven-year-old finished runner-up in the Red Rum Handicap Chase at the Grand National meeting two weeks ago and has been backed into 5-2 (from 10-3) at the head of the market to go one better on day three of the Punchestown festival for Lucinda Russell. 

Douglas Talking is the sole runner at Ireland's end-of-season jumps meeting for Russell and will be without the aid of Derek Fox after the dual Grand National-winning jockey broke his collar bone in a fall at Perth on Wednesday. 

Douglas Talking: Lucinda Russell's sole runner at the Punchestown festivalCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Fox only just returned from injury in the nick of time for National glory on Corach Rambler and missed the ride on Douglas Talking two days prior. Stephen Mulqueen, who picked up the ride that day, will retain the partnership in Fox's absence. 

The 30-year-old jockey is enjoying his best-ever season with a breakthrough Grade 1 victory this month on Apple Away in the Sefton before securing his 100th career win on Wednesday. 

The pair face a strong Irish front headed by Grand Annual runner-up Dinoblue and the Terence O'Brien-trained Whiskeywealth, who has shortened into 5-1 (from 7) under Mike O'Connor. 

Hollow Games and Coeur Sublime have also been warmly backed on Thursday morning into general odds of 10-1 from 12-1 and 14-1 respectively. 

Updated at 3pm

Market movers

3.40 
Broomfield Bijou 8-1 (from 12)

4.15
Douglas Talking 5-2 (from 10-3)
Whiskey Wealth 5-1 (from 7)
Hollow Games 10-1 (from 12)
Coeur Sublime 10-1 (from 14)

4.50
Clonguile Way 5-1 (from 10)​​

5.25
Teahupoo 2-1 (from 5-2)
Meet And Greet 16 (from 25)

6.00
Seabank Bistro 11-2 (from 7)

7.10
Broomfield Hall 6-1 (from 9)

7.45
Ballyburn evens (from 11-8)

Updated at 2.30pm

Non-runners

3.40
Captains Nephew (coughing)
Golf Marin (going)
Ideal Pal (ran yesterday)

4.50
Nick Lost (coughing)

7.45 
Loughglynn (stone bruise)

Updated at 1.45pm

More from day two of the Punchestown festival: 

2023 Punchestown festival tips: Thursday's best bets from Racing Post experts  

'I think you'll see the real Klassical Dream at Punchestown' - Grade 1 insight and trainer quotes 

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