Punchestown Tips Today: Wednesday Best Bets from Architect

Party Playboy, 0.5 pts E/W, 33/1, 6 places 

The opener is an extremely difficult renewal of the Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle. However, I’m quite drawn to the claims of PARTY PLAYBOY (best price 33/1), particularly with most firms that are paying six places. 

This 10-year-old has yet to run a bad race in this sphere and has made the frame three times at this venue. He’s a two-time winner over two and a half miles and was in seriously good form in 2019, which included a second-place finish in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket. 

He then returned from a four-year plus absence to shape well when he finished fifth at Fairyhouse over three miles and subsequently ran well to finish a staying-on third in a 0-140 handicap back at the same venue from this exact mark. 

In addition, this race is a 95-123, and connections are fitting him with a tongue-tie coupled up with the cheekpieces. The distance and ground will suit, and his knowledge of this course and large-field experience should see him right in the mix at the business end. 

Six places are widely offered and advised.

Black Bamboo, 0.5 pts E/W, 8/1, 4 places 

BLACK BAMBOO (best price 10/1) ought to find this easier than the last couple of assignments he’s been set by his connections.

After a string of in-the-frame efforts, this seven-year-old capitalised on a good opportunity at Cork and has held his form very well in four tough handicaps. 

He’s not been able to make an impact in each but has been strong at the finish in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham Festival and the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Aintree in recent months.

This will be his first run over hurdles at the course, but it has often favoured horses that are held up, and that’s how he likes to race.

He ran well when third here on his debut in a bumper, and, on these terms, he must surely be thereabouts when it matters most. 

Four places are available, as advised.

Mistergif, 1.5pts WIN, 2/1

MISTERGIF (best price 2/1) must be considered as the one to beat in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins. 

If Paul is to win the championship and close the gap on Jack Kennedy, he could really do with the shorter-priced runners taking the spoils. 

This five-year-old acquitted himself very well in a pair of Grade 1 races since he made a winning stable debut at Limerick by 18 lengths. 

This is a significant drop in grade, and, with the scope for a lot more improvement, he should be very difficult to beat. He is a worthy favourite. 

Sempo, 0.5 pts E/W, 20/1

At an each-way price in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle, I wouldn’t rule out a decent showing from the very capable SEMPO (best price 20/1), who has the class to run well for Joseph O’Brien.

This lightly-raced 10-year-old was having his first run over hurdles since finishing sixth on the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle when he finished second at Cork on his return from a two-and-a-half-year absence. 

He was also fifth in the Irish Grand National three years ago, so he certainly has plenty of smart form in the locker. This trip might be on the short side, but he has the ability to at least make the frame. 

Stellar Story, 1pt WIN, 7/2

STELLAR STORY (best price 7/2) had three of these in behind when he gallantly landed the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month and is fancied to confirm the form by landing the major festival double. 

Gordon Elliott’s seven-year-old has won four of his eight starts, and on the back of that personal best, he can follow in the footsteps of The Nice Guy, who won the Albert Bartlett before following up in this race. His odds are attractive. 

The Yellow Clay, 0.5 pts E/W, 25/1

The market has harshly overlooked Gordon Elliott’s THE YELLOW CLAY (best price 25/1) in this Grade 1 championship bumper race, and I have an inclination that he will run a very big race.

This five-year-old won his first couple of bumper starts at short odds. including a Listed race when beating a subsequent three-time winner, before running an unbelievable race to finish fourth in the Grade 2 Donohue Marquees Future Stars at Leopardstown. 

Despite being sent off at odds of 40/1, he was travelling so well and just looking like he was going to make a winning manoeuvre before he was badly hampered two furlongs out, which shuffled him towards the rear of the field. 

To his credit, he rallied to be nearest the finish in fourth and almost snatched third. Without being hampered, I have no doubt he would have finished at least second. It was a remarkable effort, considering what happened to him. 

He wasn’t quite in the same form when he finished sixth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, but that was still a good effort in defeat, and this course should play more to his strengths. It might be difficult to reverse the form with the first and second, but he’s certainly an each way player.

James Du Berlais, 1.5pts WIN, 7/2

The Grade 3 HSS Hire Handicap Chase can go to the top-weight JAMES DU BERLAIS (best price 7/2) who will arrive into the race on the back of an excellent second in the Topham Chase at Aintree. 

This high-class eight-year-old has been winless since winning easily on his chase debut, but he has some quality in-the-frame efforts to his name, including at this meeting on two occasions.

In his second start for Willie Mullins, three years ago, he finished second in the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle at this fixture and finished third in the Grade 1 Champion Novice Chase twelve months ago. 

In his four subsequent starts in top-class handicap company, he’s performed extremely well under monster weights. He was unlucky to be mugged on the line at Aintree last time out, having travelled much the best. 

The handicapper has only raised his mark by a pound, which I think is very lenient, and he’s already finished in front of most of these. He is the class act in the field and can make amends for his near-miss last time out. 

Air Of Entitlement, 0.5 pts E/W, 13/2, 4 places 

The Grade 3 Weatherbys General Stud Book Irish EBF Mares Flat Race is the concluding race on the card, and I really like the chances of Henry de Bromhead’s AIR OF ENTITLEMENT (best price 13/2). 

This point-to-point winner was strongly supported in the betting ahead of her debut at Cork, and she was mightily impressive in how she bounded clear of her rivals off what was a sedate pace. 

She is open to plenty more improvement, and this race is likely to be run to suit her. I think Henry has a very smart mare on his hands, given that she has pace, gears, and stays well. I’ll be surprised if she’s not in the first four.