The Punchestown Festival continues on Friday and there are another two Grade 1 races to look forward to on Day 4. This includes the return of the mighty Ballyburn in the Champion Novice Hurdle which should be a cracking watch. We’ve identified our four best bets at the meeting and combined them into a Lucky 15. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
Tactical Move has an excellent season over fences, failing to finish outside of the first two in four starts over the larger obstacles. Willie Mullins’ gelding won a Grade 3 at Naas on his penultimate start and followed that up by finishing second to Spillane’s Tower in the Grade 1 WillowWarm Gold Cup. A handicap mark of 145 looks very tempting and a huge run is anticipated.
Gavin Cromwell’s Brides Hill has taken her form to a new level this season and she won a Listed race at Huntingdon in good style when last seen. Unbeaten in three starts this term, it’s fair to say that she’s had a profitable campaign. Allegorie De Vassy is probably the one to beat here but she has looked vulnerable at times this season and Brides Hill can be the one to capitalise.
Irish Point has been a revelation this season and it was a career best effort when runner-up in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. Two miles isn’t his ideal trip but he’s had a light campaign and looks like the ideal candidate take on odds-on favourite State Man with. Gordon Elliott’s gelding looks progressive and further improvement shouldn’t be ruled out.
Ballyburn is probably the most exciting horse we’ve seen for a while and he looks capable of absolutely anything. He was an easy winner of the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and it’s highly unlikely that any of his five rivals can lay a glove on him here.
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