Punchestown Horse Racing Tips for Friday: Allegorie De Vassy to show class

The fourth day of the Punchestown Festival takes place on Friday and the star attractions are Champion Hurdle winner State Man and fellow Cheltenham star Ballyburn for Willie Mullins.

The latest horse racing betting tips for the card at Punchestown from Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway are below. 

Friday's Punchestown Horse Racing Betting Tips and Odds

4:15 – Flanking Maneuver @ 25/1
4:50 – Allegorie De Vassy @ 6/4 
7:05 – Mighty Bandit @ SP

4:15 – Flanking Maneuver @ 25/1

The change in ground conditions to a quicker surface this week at Punchestown means that the class horses have been coming to the fore and Flanking Maneuver might be the latest to take advantage in the 2m4½f novice handicap chase.

Flanking Maneuver recorded his best effort on good to yielding ground last season when third behind Churchstonewarrior in a Grade 2 at Navan and has been highly tried this campaign without success.

He finished fourth behind Grangeclare West in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown in December and again competed at the top level on his last start at Fairyhouse, when sixth to the top-class Spillane's Tower.

All of his last six runs have come on soft or heavy ground, which wouldn't have been ideal, and he hasn't had much luck on his last two starts, falling at Naas and being hampered early last time.

This is an easier assignment than the Graded races he has been contesting and he can bounce back.

4:50 – Allegorie De Vassy @ 6/4

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend have been as dominant as ever this week and they appear to have an outstanding chance in the 2m4½f Grade 2 mares chase with class act Allegorie De Vassy.

She has returned to her best this season and was impressive when beating Riviere D'etel on heavy ground at Naas in February, especially given the 2m trip would have been a sharp enough test for her.

Allegorie De Vassy was no match for smart pair Limerick Lace and Dinoblue at Cheltenham last time, but she still ran a solid race in fourth and there is nothing of that class in this weaker looking line-up.

She handles better ground with no problem and might have the measure of Brides Hill, who has yet to face a rival of her class despite coming here on a four-timer. This will be a more difficult test for her.

7:05 – Mighty Bandit @ SP

The 2m novice hurdle looks like a good opportunity for the British to get a winner on the board because Mighty Bandit is capable of a lot better than he showed on his debut for Warren Greatrex.

The four-year-old was bought out of Gordon Elliott's stable for €420,000 following his defeat in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown over Christmas and was pitched straight into the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham by his new trainer. That was a tough task and Mighty Bandit was pulled up at the last.

Nevertheless, there were excuses for that poor run as he was too free and lost a shoe along the way. It's therefore worth giving him another chance to show his true form in this significantly weaker race.

Mighty Bandit thrashed Lark In The Mornin by nine-and-a-half lengths on his hurdles debut at Punchestown and that rival is likely to be one of the favourites here. That form may be good enough.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.