The final day of the Punchestown Festival brings the curtain down on the Irish jumps season. With eight more scores to be settled, there is still plenty to watch and enjoy.
Matty Sutcliffe aims to go out with some winners at the meeting. He has four tips to follow.
Punchestown Racing Tips (Saturday 2 May)
Matty has four selections across the cross country, chase and hurdles courses at Punchestown on Saturday.
2:30 Punchestown – Howden Cross Country Chase (5yo+) – Escaria Ten 10/1 1pt WIN
Fountain House could prove tough to beat if backing up his excellent performance here on Tuesday, as could Busselton if lining up after his Thursday success, but a chance is taken on Escaria Ten who arrives on the back of two pleasing efforts and is likely to have been campaigned with this race in mind by Martin Keighley.
The 12-year-old was a formerly smart horse for Gordon Elliott, placing in the 2021 National Hunt Chase and the Irish Grand National. He’s lost his way the last couple of seasons, but he’s not run without credit on a number of occasions, such as his London National fourth last season and he led the field two out in the Cross Country at the Cheltenham Festival last season.
He was third to the subsequent Cross Country second and Grand National sixth Favour De Champdou on his penultimate start, and ran creditably at Exeter last time out. He evidently enjoys this discipline, and I suspect he’ll make it a good test from the front under James Best.
3:05 Punchestown – DAR Golf Handicap Chase (5yo+ 0-145) – Shanbally Kid 10/1 1pt EW 5 places
Shanbally Kid landed a gamble when a 15-length winner of this contest last season having pulled up last time out, so we shouldn’t be put off by his no show in the Irish Grand National as this is likely always to have been the plan.
He was put up 14lbs for that success, but after four defeats the handicapper has halved that margin. Two of his four subsequent starts haven’t been devoid of promise, as he was only beaten thirteen lengths when midfield in a valuable Leopardstown handicap on seasonal debut, finishing a length behind the subsequent Topham winner Will The Wise.
His fourth in the Leinster National wasn’t entirely poor either, as the top two were in a different parish that day and he jumped for throughout. While he is still 7lbs higher than his win here last season, he’d certainly have won it that day with a further 7lbs on and he’ll be tough to beat if rediscovering that form.
3:45 Punchestown – Palmerstown House Estate Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase (Listed Race) (5yo+ 0-150) – Uhavemeinstitches 5/1 1.5pt WIN
JP McManus fields five here and Uhavemeinstitches is presumably the chosen mount of Mark Walsh which should be noted, and the daughter of Walk In The Park could be very nicely treated off 132.
Her form since going chasing this season reads 1233U1, the latter coming in a Limerick grade 3 when comfortably beating Willie Mullins You Oughta Know despite what the finishing margin suggests. She was a close third to The Big Westerner in a Limerick Grade 2 earlier this season, rated 12lbs superior to her and she was only two lengths behind Jade De Grugy there, rated 18lbs superior.
Her Naas Listed third also reads well, as she was a head behind the 142 rated Bioluminescence in a race dominated by the 159 rated Dinoblue, who produced a strong performance next time out at Cheltenham.
Evidently, this mark of 132 could easily underestimate her back in handicap company, and an easier surface will be of no issue given her win at Wexford on good ground earlier this season.
5:30 Punchestown – Lawlor’s Of Naas Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) (4yo+) – Sony Bill 25/1 1pt EW 5 places
Sony Bill has largely disappointed for Willie Mullins since joining last season, after making a promising debut in Grade 2 company at Leopardstown.
However, he’s bred to improve with age and strikes me as the type who it’ll all click for at some point. He put in his best effort this season last time out when catching the eye in a Fairyhouse handicap earlier last month, staying on well from midfield to finishing a seven-length fourth. That was a competitive event that’s worked out well, as the winner went in again here on Wednesday off 9lbs higher, the eighth won here on Tuesday, and the ninth was third to the winner on Wednesday.
He shaped as if a step back up trip would suit there, and he may be coming to fruition after that pleasing performance.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets for Punchestown Day 5
2:30 Punchestown – Howden Cross Country Chase (5yo+) – Escaria Ten 10/1 1pt WIN
3:05 Punchestown – DAR Golf Handicap Chase (5yo+ 0-145) – Shanbally Kid 10/1 1pt EW 5 places
3:45 Punchestown – Palmerstown House Estate Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase (Listed Race) (5yo+ 0-150) – Uhavemeinstitches 5/1 1.5pt WIN
5:30 Punchestown – Lawlor’s Of Naas Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) (4yo+) – Sony Bill 25/1 1pt EW 5 places
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Punchestown Day 5 Tips
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets for the racing on day 5 of the Punchestown Festival.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s racing tips were published at 3.21pm on Friday 1 May.
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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