The fourth day of the Punchestown Festival takes place on Friday, as Matty Sutcliffe picks out a pair of value selections, including a horse to take on Cheltenham protagonists in Grade 1 company.
5:25 Punchestown – QuinnBet Novice Handicap Chase (Listed Race) (5yo+) – Sir Argus 0.5pt EW 5 places
Willie Mullins has farmed this contest in recent years, taking seven of last ten renewals with some smart types including Kemboy in 2018, and he fields five in here. I don’t think its the deepest looking novice chase, and it might pay to chance the unexposed SIR ARGUS, who could be well handicapped off a mark of 130 if eventually putting it all together over fences.
The Soldier Of Fortune gelding made a promising chase debut two seasons ago when a clear second to Mars Harper who franked that form next time out when taking a 27k Listowel Chase with the third that day also going on to win two starts later.
He was ridden far too aggressively when returning from a 451-day layoff at Galway next time out, jumping the last in front before weakening markedly quickly around a time where Willie’s weren’t firing. He unseated Brian Hayes early on at Naas in March, and the cheek-pieces now go on for this handicap debut.
He was third in a competitive handicap at this meeting in 2023, and prior to that he was four lengths behind Franciscan Rock giving that one 8lbs, who later placed third in a G1 behind Gaelic Warrior here.
A mark of 130 is workable should the cheek-pieces sharpen him up, and this quicker surface should suit judged on the balance of his hurdling form.
6:00 Punchestown – Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+) – Lovely Hurling 10/1 1.5pt EW 3 places
The obvious starting point here is is the second and third from the Turners’ at Cheltenham in The Yellow Clay and Final Demand, but we’ve already seen throughout the week that Cheltenham form isn’t necessarily holding up and a chance is taken on the unexposed LOVELY HURLING for Colm Murphy.
After a moderate hurdling debut that could only be described as a schooling affair, the son of Walk In The Park was a well backed winner on bumper debut at Wexford last May, coming right from rear in menacing fashion under John Gleeson to draw away in fashionable style by five lengths, still looking very much unfurnished but demonstrating a smart engine in the process.
He confirmed that promise when making a winning return to hurdles at Naas in February, again coming from rear travelling strongly and once pressed by the second, he comfortably drew away in effortless style under Mark Walsh. The form of that race has worked out well, with the second winning next time out, the third has won twice since latterly a C2 handicap at Sandown, the twenty four length fourth has won since, as did the well beaten sixth.
He recorded a 3lbs higher RPR than Spillane’s Tower did when he won that contest in 2023, and it’s interesting that they step up to this company as opposed to going for the novice hurdle at the end of the card that Spillane’s Tower was second in that year.
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