Punchestown Tips Today: Friday Best Bets from Architect

Private Ryan, 0.5 pts E/W, 6/1

PRIVATE RYAN (best price 6/1) is related to the top-class First Lieutenant and is a dual winner over three miles in point-to-point races, so it’s highly possible that he will be ridden forward, with his stamina assured. He beat a few of these very comfortably in the second of those wins and must have a great chance of confirming his superiority on his hunters’ chase debut. 

Mister Policeman, 1.5pts WIN, 5/2

Paul Townend has interestingly opted to ride MISTER POLICEMAN (best price 5/2) instead of Tactical Move. This imposing six-year-old has won three of his four chase starts, including when he landed the odds in Grade 3 at Thurles seven weeks ago. He has plenty more to come and should be suited to the step-up in distance, so he earns the vote to continue his progress. 

Allegorie De Vassy, 2pts WIN, 13/8

Brides Hill is unbeaten in three starts this season and is worth her place in this grade, but she might have to again settle for minor honours behind ALLEGORIE DE VASSY (best price 13/8). 

Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old twice succeeded at this level last season, including when she pummelled Brides Hill by 19 lengths at Thurles, and there’s no reason why the latter should reverse the form. 

This high-class mare (put up by Road to Cheltenham too) has won two of her four starts this season, and even though she could only finish fourth in the fourth in Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase at Cheltenham in March, I don’t think the track plays to her strengths. 

This is easier, and her form over this trip in Ireland reads two wins from two starts. She disappointed in the race 12 months ago, but we know she’s a lot better than that, and she should be able to outclass these.

Lifetime Ambition, 1pt WIN, 5/1

Its On The Line has been superbly campaigned and won nicely at Aintree last time out, but he will do well to beat the classy LIFETIME AMBITION (best price 5/1), who made an impressive stable/hunters debut at Cork and has plenty more to come in this code. 

The nine-year-old is extremely consistent and has won three of his five starts in point-to-point races. He has also made the frame in two Grade 1 races at this course, including at this meeting two years ago, and his form over three miles reads well. 

He’s a good jumper; he travels well, has the course form to draw upon, and is the top-rated runner in the field at 152. He is rated 15Ib higher than the favourite, so the price comparison between the two seems too big here. He is fancied to take the spoils. 

Famous Clermont, 1pt WIN, 5/1

The British representatives have predominantly done well in this race over the years, and I like the chances of the quirky but talented FAMOUS CLERMONT (best price 5/1).

This nine-year-old was turned over when last seen under rules when second at Wincanton, but would have won without a bad mistake at the last fence. He’s been kept fresh since, bypassing the major hunter races at Cheltenham and Aintree, and has no doubt been saved for this race. 

His record over three miles for this stable, including point-to-point races, reads an excellent 212111111131. He will be suited to the pace of this race, and the return to his best distance is a major positive. Last year’s Foxhunters’ winner makes plenty of appeal.

Ascending, 0.5 pts E/W, 10/1, 4 places 

The Uniquely Novice Hurdle doesn’t look like a deep race, even with Boodles winner Lark In The Mornin in the field. At the odds, Henry De Bromhead’s ASCENDING (best price 10/1) could be set to run another big race, with firms paying four places. 

The five-year-old was expected to gain a first win over hurdles last time out, having been sent off as the odds-on favourite, but came unstuck on the testing ground. It is easy to put a line through that showing and judge him on his previous form, which is good enough to make an impact. 

Having finished second on his hurdles debut, he was then highly tried in a pair of Grade 1 races last season and ran well in each of those, including when he finished fifth in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. He then finished third in two very good large-field maidens, including over course and distance.

There’s no doubt he has more to offer, and his course form is an advantage. His stable is having a great week too, so even though he has yet to score in this sphere, it is only a matter of time before he does. I can imagine him running a very big race under Rachael Blackmore.