There are short-priced favourites aplenty on day four of the Punchestown Festival. However, that is not how Matty Sutcliffe rolls, as he has delved through the card for some value bets.
He has three best bets for you to follow on Friday at the Irish venue.
Punchestown Racing Tips (Friday 1 May)
Competitive handicaps and hunter chases abound on Friday. Matty has three selections in such races on the Punchestown card.
4:15 Punchestown – Uniquely Champion Hunters Chase (5yo+) – Asian Master 10/1 1pt EW 4 places
It’s On The Line has won the last two renewals of this contest so naturally needs to be feared, but he bombed out at Aintree in a race he won in 2024 and frailties are beginning to creep in, thus he warrants to be taken on this time around Asian Master is given the nod after his pleasing form in points/hunter chases of late.
The former Willie Mullins trained inmate was second to Fact To File on his racecourse debut and subsequently has conjured up several strong pieces of form under rules. He beat the subsequent Coral Cup winner Jimmy Du Seuil on runs debut in 2023, and was fourth in the Supreme that season.
His chase campaign saw him finish a seven length third to Majborough, and a similar margin to Mistergif. He failed to fire when fancied for the Jack Richards, but since switching codes he’s been a rejuvenated model. Asian Master was second to a three time subsequent winner back in a point, and backed that up when a winner himself at Kildorrey. The second finished ahead of Hearts And Spades next time out, who heads the market here.
He then won comfortably by five lengths at Belclare, with the second and third winning next time out. He lost little in defeat down in trip when a neck second to the formerly smart Journey With Me (rated 155 under rules this time last year), pulling fourteen lengths clear of last years Topham sixth Jetoile.
He’s at home on this sounder surface, and a combination of both his recent rules and pointing form making him a lively contender.
5:25 Punchestown – QuinnBet Novice Handicap Chase (Listed Race) (5yo+) – Funiculi Funicula 11/2 1pt WIN
Willie Mullins has won this seven times in the last ten years, four of them coming under Paul Townend and they look to have another good chance with the progressive Funiculi Funicula.
The son of Storm The Stars was a seventeen length winner on debut for Willie Mullins last January from a 453 day layoff, and was pitched straight into the Supreme thereafter. While he failed to fire, the decision somewhat justified the apparent ability as he was then a length third in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree next time out, behind horses subsequently placed in Grade 1’s in open company.
He was well beaten by Final Demand at this meeting next time out, but as were the rest. He was well beaten on chase debut, but the yards horses weren’t all that firing then and he reversed the form with the second next time out, albeit finishing second to a subsequent winner in C’Est Ta Chance. He had the Irish Grand National winner in fourth there, and he got off the mark himself when staying on to beat the consistent enough Wingmen giving him 5lbs.
That came after a 73 day break, and it was a career best performance in which he wasn’t stopping at the line. A mark of 141 is no opening gift, but Mullins has won this with horses to the fore of the weights and he looks to have a strong chance if building on his Cork success, particularly on this better ground.
7:10 Punchestown – FRS Fencing Handicap Hurdle (4yo+) – In My Teens 10/11pt EW 5 places
Four-year-olds have taken three of the last nine runnings of this race and hit the frame in both 2025 and 2022, so the sole juvenile In My Teens can be considered off a handy bottom-weight.
The daughter of Camelot was rated 98 on the flat having won a Down Royal Maiden a shade cosily last June on good ground, before finishing second the the well backed Retracement in a competitive Curragh Handicap.
She then made her hurdles debut over C&D when catching the eye from rear, travelling awfully strongly but perhaps failing to find much on the soft ground. The winner’s gone in since now rated 120, and the third has won well since now rated 130.
She unseated at the first next time out in Grade 3 company, and has more than caught the eye in rear since, including when seven lengths behind Wednesday’s winner Quinta Do Lago.
An opening mark of 113 suggests it’s job well done for connections as she looks thrown in off that mark, and while Mark Walsh sides with Saveforarainyday, Simon Torrens is more than an able deputy as demonstrated when winning on another progeny of Camelot for JP McManus on Tuesday.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets for Punchestown Day 4
4:15 Punchestown – Uniquely Champion Hunters Chase (5yo+) – Asian Master 10/1 1pt EW 4 places
5:25 Punchestown – QuinnBet Novice Handicap Chase (Listed Race) (5yo+) – Funiculi Funicula 11/2 1pt WIN
7:10 Punchestown – FRS Fencing Handicap Hurdle (4yo+) – In My Teens 10/11pt EW 5 places
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Best Bets – Friday 1 May
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets for the racing at Punchestown on Friday 1 May.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s racing tips were published at 3.35pm on Thursday 30 April.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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