Horse Racing Betting Tips – Best Bets For Punchestown Festival Day 4

May 1, 2014 Thatsbettingtips Staff

Horse racing tips and advice for the best bets on Day 4 of the Punchestown Festival.

With another two Grade 1’s on the card, the Punchestown Festival is showing no signs of slowing down. Despite only three runners lining up for day’s feature race – the Racing Post Champion Hurdle, the inclusion of both Jezki and Hurricane Fly certainly promises a thrilling contest.

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The first bet of the day comes in the Mares Handicap Chase, where the jockey booking of Paul Carberry onboard UNE ARTISTE (7/1 bet365) has caught my eye. This horse was a winner last time out at Fairyhouse, sticking her neck in front of Nadiya De La Vega staying on strong under pressure. With Nicky Henderson’s stable jockey Barry Geraghty opting for his boss’ other runner – Utopie Des Bordes (4/1 Coral), I’m hoping there will be a spot of each-way value about my selection.

All eyes will fall on the clash between HURRICANE FLY (1/1 Betfred) and Jezki in the Racing Post Champion Hurdle. The Fly loves Punchestown and it seems all of his best performances come on this track. He defends his Punchestown crown on the back of a below-par performance in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham where he finished fourth to Jezki, a horse he had beaten in his two previous starts in the Irish Champion Hurdle and the Ryanair Hurdle. Jezki (11/10 Coral) will be ridden by AP McCoy and not Barry Geraghty, which is something of a shame considering the tune Geraghty gets out of the horse. Jezki is trained by Jessica Harrington, who is also responsible for the third member of the party, Steps To Freedom (40/1 bet365). The race is undoubtedly going to turn into a tactical affair and with that in mind I think Hurricane Fly should have the upper hand and claim another Punchestown victory.

Five runners go to post for the Champion Novice Hurdle, with both VAUTOUR (4/11 SkyBet) and Noble Emperor putting their unbeaten records on the line. Doubts initially surfaced about the horse as his trainer Willie Mullins wasn’t happy with a piece of work the Supreme Novice Hurdle winner completed at the beginning of the week. Those fears have abated and any sort of reproduction of the form that saw him win at Cheltenham would make him very difficult to beat. The race doesn’t look the strongest and, with the small field, Vautour should be able to dominate and is a confident selection. The slight unknown is the Tony Martin and AP McCoy runner – Noble Emperor (16/1 SkyBet), who has won his only two starts of the season with ease. This is a huge step-up in class however, and as yet we don’t know what he is capable of producing when put under serious pressure. Lac Fontana (15/2 Coral) was a Cheltenham and Aintree Festival winner, coming out on top when putting in two gutsy performances. There’s no doubt this horse likes getting his head in front and gives his all in any battle, but I don’t think he’s got the class to match Vautour. Apache Stronghold (16/1 bet365) and Lieutenant Colonel (8/1 Coral) complete the field and, although neither can be ignored, they have plenty to find with the best of the form shown by the favourite.