Free betting tips for Punchestown Festival day four
Man On The Spot's race-by-race guide and best bets for Friday's meeting at Punchestown.
3.40 - KFM Hunters Chase For The Bishopscourt Cup
DAS MOOSER won this last year in impressive style, beating Shin A Vee, who had won the previous two renewals. He's been saved for another crack and will take the world of beating. Peter Maher has a fine record in these types of races and Alpha Male, once with Nicky Henderson, has been running well between the flags and Barry O'Neill will ensure he gets a good ride as he rode him to victory at Borris House in December. The stable also run Battle Hard with Derek O'Connor on board, though his mount has yet to reach a place in eight starts between the flags. Lighting Tunes represented the yard in the opening race on Tuesday but the Tinahely winner was well beaten.
4.20 - EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase
Kemboy fell at the first in the Irish National but made amends with a superb effort to land a Limerick Grade 3 where he was always travelling nicely. There's still more to come from Willie Mullins' charge and he looks certain to be thereabouts, despite a huge weight. The stable have plenty of other chances including with Koshari and Up For Review, who carry the same weight. The former defied mistakes to win easily at Clonmel while the latter ran well for a long way in a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse won by Al Boum Photo. Jessica Harrington has a tremendous record in the race and A Sizing Network looks best of her entries as he found 3m4f too far at Cork after an impressive victory over a slightly longer trip than this on this track. De Plotting Shed has become disappointing while his stable companion SQUOUATEUR has never won over fences, though it could be the latter's turn today. He ran a cracker when third in the Kim Muir before being brought down in the Irish National and it's about time he was getting off the mark. Bel Ami De Sivola gained his first success over fences at Fairyhouse and should be even better suited by the longer trip so he's on the short-list.
4.55 - Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Glencarraig Lady Francis Flood Mares Handicap Chase
SYNOPSIS (NAP) has only run once over fences, scoring easily at Thurles last month. She had a run over timber a couple of weeks later but looks a young chaser with potential and is likely to be rated much higher than 123 in the future so looks the one to be on. Slowmotion was narrowly beaten in this a year ago but entered the fray in winning form having landed a Grade 3 earlier in the month. This time she hasn't run since November and has to concede plenty of weight. Bonny Kate is capable of a big run though she hasn't won for over two years but Magic Of Light beat a huge field over hurdles at this meeting a year ago and there should be more to come from her over fences. Elusive Ivy hasn't been in the best of form but has dropped to a fair mark and could reward each-way support.
5.30 - Betdaq 2% Commission Punchestown Champion Hurdle
Wicklow Brave beat better fancied rivals in this a year ago after which he pursued a career at the highest level on the Flat. He'd arrived after a moderate run behind Buveur D'Air in the Champion Hurdle and is taking the same path this time so a big run is expected. He has four stablemates to accompany him including Min, fourth in the Champion Chase here on Tuesday, and MELON, beaten just a neck in the Champion Hurdle after looking the likely winner on the run-in. The latter is taken to go one better though Samcro has won a point-to-point, three bumpers and four races over hurdles in his unbeaten run and those who supported him into odds-on for the 2m5f Ballymore at Cheltenham never had a moment's concern. He's obviously a high-class novice but is playing with the big boys here for the first time and doesn't represent any value. Supasundae, runner-up in the Stayers' Hurdle and the Aintree Hurdle, still has the pace for this as he showed when beaten Faugheen in the Irish Champion Hurdle and will ensure there is no hanging about.
6.05 - Profile Systems Champion Novice Hurdle
Debuchet is the only one of these not trained by either Gordon Elliott or Willie Mullins and doesn't look quite good enough despite running well at the highest level. Elliott is sending out the Pertemps winner Delta Work to do battle again after his tremendous run in Wednesday's Grade 1 novice hurdle over 3m and he was going better than anything at this trip. Pallasator, very smart on the Flat, came late to hurdles but has made excellent progress and beat Jetz easily enough in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse. He'll need to improve again against these while punters would love to know which GETABIRD is turning up. Three times an impressive winner over timber, he's flopped at Cheltenham and behind Draconien, who he'd beaten easily on his previous start, here on Tuesday but, if back to his best ,would take the world of beating. Whiskey Sour finished fourth in that latter event with Cartwright a couple of lengths behind but both will appreciate the longer trip.
6.40 - Star Best For Racing Coverage Champion Hunters Chase
Top Wood did everything but win the Foxhunter at Cheltenham, making most and battling back when headed by Pacha Du Polder. Kelly Morgan's charge had been in excellent form between the flags earlier and will make a bold bid to gain compensation. The veteran On The Fringe, who has won this four times, was only ninth at the Festival though this is obviously his track and though Balnaslow came out and won at Aintree he was over seven lengths behind the selection at Cheltenham. Caid Du Berlais, who finished fifth, had every chance and though Sizing Coal has been going strongly the past couple of months he takes on better company. The interesting one here is UXIZANDRE, the 2015 Ryanair Chase winner at Cheltenham then runner-up to Un De Sceaux in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase back there in January last year. He only scrambled home between the flags at Castletown earlier this month but that should have put the edge on him and Derek O'Connor rides.
7.10 - SalesSense International Novice Hurdle
Deal D'Estruval just failed in a very strong handicap at Leopardstown before a poor run in the Martin Pipe, which wasn't his form. Roaring Bull found heavy going against him at Navan last time and is better judged on earlier efforts while Riders Onthe Storm didn't stay 2m4f last time after a close second in a Listed contest here. Causey Arch made a successful debut for Willie Mullins at Clonmel after a very long break and looks one to follow but a chance is taken with SHADY OPERATOR. Joseph O'Brien's charge has only had three runs over hurdles, the latest when runner-up to the useful Sharjah at Gowran in November. He looks the type to improve significantly and gets the nod in a tricky race.
7.45 - GVA Donal O'Buachalla Property Advisors Flat Race
All For Joy lacks a finishing burst though would be suited by some rain to ease the ground. Dorrells Pierji won a point on heavy going last February and was having his first subsequent start when only third of four in a Tramore bumper last week. First Approach has come up against smart performers in his two bumper runs and not beaten far but PRESS CONFERENCE looks the one to be on. Jessica Harrington's charge won a point in December and finished runner-up to Carefully Selected on his bumper debut at Naas. The winner has subsequently been placed in championship events here and at Cheltenham so the form looks strong.
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