Horse Racing Tip – 5.30 Punchestown 28-04-16

The defeats of hot favourites Vautour and Yorkhill at this week’s Punchestown Festival goes to show how difficult it can be for horses to retain their best form at this time of year and while World Hurdle runner-up Alpha Des Obeaux is the clear form pick in Thursday’s Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle the mount of Brian Cooper could be worth taking on at the 5-4 generally available.

Clear second best behind the supreme Thistlecrack at Cheltenham, the six-year-old would be a near certainty if reproducing that effort but as we have seen on more than one occasion at this end-of-season festival there is no guarantee of that happening. For that reason it may be worth taking a chance on British raider If In Doubt causing an upset at a big price.

A desperately unlucky loser of the Pertemps Final at the Festival when meeting all sorts of trouble in the closing stages. Although a slightly disappointing second at Aintree’s Grand National meeting that was still a decent performance and the mount of Barry Geraghty is more than capable of handling the step up in class in this Grade 1 contest.

Diamond King is another making the transition from handicap company (won Coral Cup last time) but may lack the stamina required at this level and a bigger danger could come from the powerful combination of Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh courtesy of Shaneshill who ran a fine race behind Thistlecrack at Aintree.But at a much bigger price If In Doubt rates the value each-way bet for leading owner JP McManus and trainer Philip Hobbs.

Punchestown 5.40 Tip

1 point each-way If In Doubt 16-1 William Hill