Punchestown Festival Day 4 Tips (Friday 1st May 2026)

Day 4 of the Punchestown Festival 2026 takes place on Friday and it looks another strong card with a couple of the standout races of the week.

By now we know what’s what and which Cheltenham runs took their toll and which horses have come here primed to strike. It’s usually a day where strong opinions pay off because there are fewer unknowns and more repeat clashes.

The Champion Novice Hurdle and Champion Hurdle are the races that matter and both look set to be proper contests. You’re not guessing with these it’s about who’s turned up in the best shape and who still has something left in the tank after a long season. If you get it right here, it can be a big day.

Here are my Punchestown Festival 2026 Day 4 tips and best bets.

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Punchestown Day 4 tips (Friday)

• 3.40 Hearts And Spades – 10/11 with Boyle Sports
• 4.15 Wonderwall – 4/1 with bet365
• 4.50 Dinoblue – 4/6 with bet365
• 5.25 Anyway – 9/1 each way with Paddy Power
• 6.00 King Rasko Grey – 1/2 with bet365
• 6.40 Lossiemouth – 4/9 with Betfred
• 7.10 Avalo – 16/1 each way with bet365
• 7.40 Cityofblindinlites – 13/8 with Sky Bet

Joe’s best horse racing betting tips for the Punchestown Festival (Friday 1st May 2026)

Find my top tips for Friday 1st May 2026 racing with odds from the best horse racing bookies below:

Punchestown 3.40 Stanley Asphalt Hunters Chase For The Bishopscourt Cup (5YO plus) 2m4f

A Hunters Chase to get the card underway on Friday and while I wouldn’t have a strong opinion in the race HEARTS AND SPADES does look the one to side with.

He won six in a row before bumping into Winged Leader where he was only denied a neck. He then went down less than a length at Cork so arrives at the top of his game and is understandably a warm order.

Last Round looked good winning at Limerick and despite losing his way a bit since he has been freshened up with this likely in mind so could be the danger. Heartbreak Weather is in winning form and is another to note.

Bet on HEARTS AND SPADES To Win at 10/11 with Boyle Sports

Punchestown 4.15 Uniquely Champion Hunters Chase (5YO plus) 3m1/2f

It’s On The Line won this 12 months ago and will likely prove popular again but WONDERWALL appeals as being better value.

I know he has ground to make up on Cheltenham but he was given a lot to do and didn’t give his best running on the day. He has won since so his confidence will be back on the up and he should run well here.

Panda Boy was an excellent fifth at Cheltenham behind Barton Snow so on that form definitely has a squeak here as he has been kept fresh since then too and had won his two starts prior to that solid run.

Bet on WONDERWALL To Win at 4/1 with bet365

Punchestown 4.50 Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Glencarraig Lady Francis Flood Mares Chase (Grade 2) 2m4f

It is difficult to oppose DINOBLUE off the back of that Cheltenham Festival win.

She also won this race last year by 35 lengths and has a pretty much bombproof CV heading into this again. She has such a likeable way of going and it is hard to see how any of these get her out of her comfort zone.

Only By Night got closest at Cheltenham and that was a very good run so perhaps she will be the one to finish second here. Kala Conti fell at Aintree but was actually getting back into the race at the time and could run well here.

The rest including Spindleberry very much look up against it.

Bet on DINOBLUE To Win at 4/6 with bet365

Punchestown 5.25 QuinnBet Novice Handicap Chase (Listed) 2m4f

Both Shuffle The Deck and Funiculi Funicula made the shortlist and are feared but I can’t help but feel ANYWAY could be the best value in the race.

I love the drop back in trip and he looks handicapped to have a big say in the outcome here. The ground is perfect and I’m surprised he is largely being overlooked in the market.

Kiss Will hit the deck at Fairyhouse but had been running well prior to that including when fifth behind Meetmebythesea at Cheltenham. If he can put in a good round of jumping that could see him involved as well in a fiercely competitive renewal.

Bet on ANYWAY Each Way at 9/1 with Paddy Power

Punchestown 6.00 Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m41/2f

There really isn’t a great deal for KING RASKO GREY to beat here so as long as he has come out of Cheltenham okay he should be beating these. He stayed on strongly to beat them convincingly in the Turners and the form has already been significantly franked. The third Zeus Power and the sixth Bossman Jack both won at Aintree and even the ninth Hurricane Pat won at Chepstow so it is really stacking up.

Kiely’s Place impressed at Clonmel on hurdles debut and then was thrown in at the deep end at Fairyhouse. He should have more to come and could chase his stablemate home. You Proof is another one I can see hitting the frame.

Bet on KING RASKO GREY To Win at 1/2 with bet365

Punchestown 6.40 Boodles Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m

Another case of the market getting this spot on!

LOSSIEMOUTH was much the best winning the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham when last seen and she has now won ten Grade 1s in her career. She is a perfect 3-3 at Punchestown and if she matches that sort of form they will be staring at her backside here.

William Munny is being hailed as the danger but he lacks a run and will need the outing. That could leave Golden Ace to pick up the pieces for second as she continues to run well in these big races.

Bet on LOSSIEMOUTH To Win at 4/9 with Betfred

Punchestown 7.10 FRS Fencing Handicap Hurdle (4YO plus) 2m

This is easily the toughest race on the card and I’ve decided to take a chance on AVALO at a massive price.

This 7yo had been running really well before that blip at Cheltenham last time. If you put a line through that he could be capable of getting involved. His second at this track on penultimate start was a likeable effort.

Pioneer Pete hacked up at Wethebry last time out and will probably go off favourite for this. He is definitely respected and heads the dangers.

Chichester Park also catches the eye despite struggling a bit last time. He could bounce back with a big run here as he is still just a 6yo.

Bet on AVALO Each Way at 16/1 with bet365

Punchestown 7.40 Stables Restaurant Naas Flat Race (4YO to 7YO) 2m3f

A bumper to conclude and CITYOFBLINDINLITES should be hard to beat. He is set to go off favourite after that massive run behind The Mourne Rambler at Leopardstown.

Obviously that horse has won the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham since and then finished second to With Nolimit here earlier in the week so the form couldn’t have worked out better.

Premier Division is well regarded and has strong form in the book too but does have ground to make up with the selection. Heldam is progressing with experience and is another one I can see getting involved in the finale.

Bet on CITYOFBLINDINLITES To Win at 13/8 with Sky Bet

My top tip for the Punchestown Festival on Friday

Another great days racing at Punchestown and I’ve decided to put the three shorties together to make a treble.

DINOBLUE seems at the top of her game right now so she is the first leg and then KING RASKO GREY is taken to back up that Cheltenham romp and LOSSIEMOUTH can see off a below average field in the Champion Hurdle.

Bet a Win Treble on DINOBLUE, KING RASKO GREY and LOSSIEMOUTH at 5/2 with bet365

About the author

Joe Norris

I’m Joe Norris, co-founder and Director of GetYourTipsOut (GYTO), which I launched in 2009 to provide daily sports betting tips, with the main focus on horse racing. Over the years, I’ve earned a reputation for offering reliable and profitable tips, which led to being named “Best Sports Betting Tipster” in 2023. Alongside my work at GYTO, I also contribute predictions to platforms like Oddschecker, allowing me to share my insights with a wide community of sports enthusiasts and bettors.

Find Joe on X: @JoeNorrisGYTO

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