Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle

Perhaps it's inevitable that Wille Mullins vs Gordon Elliott, the top trainers at the festival with nine and four wins respectively, share top billing in what looks like being the race of the day at 18:00 - State Man vs Three Stripe Life in the Champion Novice Hurdle.

Some might argue that the presence of unbeaten mare Honeysuckle makes the Champion Hurdle (17:25) the standout event, but she has been backed into a best price 1/5. In fact, for his Champion Hurdle tips and preview, Stu Williams was left looking for a more tempting each-way proposition in the betting market.

Punchestown: Friday’s Best Bets

Instead, the Champion Novice Hurdle has the makings of a proper battle between Mullins' State Man, a winner in the County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, and Elliott's Three Stripe Life - who comfortable landed the Novices' Hurdle at Aintree earlier this month just over three weeks after finishing behind only Sir Gerhard in the Ballymore at Cheltenham.

Three Stripe Life's win at Aintree was very recent proof of his ability over this trip (2m 3f 80y), while State Man will be stepping up from two miles at Cheltenham. Of the other contenders, Flame Bearer looks the most intriguing (best price 9/2) having overcome traffic problems to win a second Grade 2 when last seen in Fairyhouse. Another Mullins horse in Kilcruit comes next at 6/1.

State Man (NAP of the day for Andy Holding) shades the betting market as the 5/4 favourite and has received 18.85% of all bets for the day's racing at Punchestown through oddschecker. Three Stripe Life, meanwhile, is best price 3/1 (11/4 in places) and has taken 8.97% of the bets.