The 2022 Punchestown Festival got off to a flying start for one Tote customer with the Placepot paying out £25,988.05 to their 2.54 winning units with Tote+.
That was over £2,000 more than the standard Tote dividend, £23,625.50, just for playing online with the Tote. We take a look back at exactly how the Placepot was won.
Leg 1 - Listed Mares Novice Hurdle
The Willie Mullins-trained pair of Dinoblue (28%) and Grangee (26%) held the majority of the pots hopes in the opening leg, but with both failing to get in the frame, more than half of the pot was out at the first time of asking.
Thankfully, Party Central (30%) proved his class in the hands of Davy Russell to keep a good portion of the slips in play through victory, but second place Instit (5%) ridden by Tote ambassador Danny Mullins and Brides Hill (6%) could only drag through some stragglers leaving just less than 35,290 units still standing.
Leg 2 - G1 Champion Novice Hurdle
Just like the first race it was two Willie Mullins-trained stars who held the Placepot in the balance with 63% opting for recent Cheltenham Festival winner Sir Gehard and 27% on Dysart Dynamo.
But again it was a case of deja vu with Jack Kennedy showcasing his tactical nouse to take the spoils with the talented Mighty Potter (5%), trained by Gordon Elliott, who scooted clear of the Gatsby Grey (0%), meaning just under 2,000 units made it through to leg three.
Leg 3 - Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle
With the units quickly dwindling, the JP McManus-owned Glan took the attention of the Placepot with 15% of the remaining units following him and 17% on course bumper winner Ardla.
However, much like the first two legs, the most popular Placepot picks failed to get themselves in the places, although whisper that quietly to Gordon Elliott, who racked up a quick-fire treble with Felix Desjy running out an impressive winner for 6% of the pool.
Again, Willie Mullins had to settle for the remaining places with Farout (6%) and Tax For Max (2%) filling second and third place respectively, leaving just over 400 units still standing.
Leg 4 - G1 Champion Chase
The Champion Chase was the only leg of the day that went the way of the favourite, in a one-two that Willie Mullins did get the better of.
Energumene (38%) and Chacun Pour Soi (25%) battled it out up the home straight with the Cheltenham Champion Chase winner coming out on top, by a comfortable margin in the end, to land the Cheltenham/Punchestown double.
Despite the Mullins one-two leading them home, plenty of hopes were on Envoi Allen (22%), but he could only secure third place of the five runners to leave 267 units still standing with two legs to go.
Leg 5 - Goffs Land Rover Bumper
Sir Alex Ferguson looks to try and defend the Punchestown Gold Cup with Clan Des Obeaux tomorrow and the great Manchester United manager might have called this squeaky bum time in the Placepot.
The Goffs Land Rover Bumper always had the potential to throw up an upset, and it certainly delivered with Absolute Nations, left unbacked by Placepot punters, running out a cool winner, with Miss Agusta (1%) and Nucky Johnson (1%) following him home.
That left just 7.12 units heading into the final leg.
Leg 6 - G1 Champion Novice Chase
Only Ballyshannon Rose, Beacon Edge and the unnamed favourite were left unguarded by the remaining units, with over 50% waiting on Bob Olinger and Fury Road to help them scoop the lot.
Perhaps we should have expected it by now, but it was the same story of the day with some of the most popular picks failing to get their head into one of the places.
Instead, it was left to Capodanno (31%) and Lifetime Ambition (4%) to deliver the goods for just 2.54 winning units and cap off a day to remember for the Placepot - paying out £25,988.05 to one winning punter with Tote+.
