Punchestown Festival 2022 Day 5 Tips: Check out our best bets for Saturday's racing

It's the final day of the 2022 Punchestown Festival on Saturday afternoon, and we focus our attentions on a competitive day's racing at the Irish venue, and our in-house tipster Steve Chambers has picked out his best bet for the first seven races on the card...

14:35 Punchestown - Dooley Insurance Group Cross Country Chase

We kick off with an intriguing cross country chase at 14:35, where a host of contenders will be making their second appearance at the Punchestown Festival, and fresh from his shock victory in the La Touche Cup on Thursday the 15-year-old Ballyboker Bridge could look to follow up, while Singing Banjo and Potters Corner could also line up again. However, the one to beat is SHADY OPERATOR, who was a non runner on Thursday, but Enda Bolger's charge has a fine record over the course. Two wins and a second highlight his ability to perform to a high level, and should he take his chance here then he can prove to be a cut above his rivals in Saturday's opener.

15:10 Punchestown - Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase

Brought down in the early stages of the Grand National earlier in the month, 12-year-old veteran ANIBALE FLY will look to bounce back to form with aplomb and is an eye-catching double-figured price in the hugely competitive Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase at 15:10. Rated 145 in last year's event, the Tony Martin-trained raider finished a fine third, and taking his chance off 140 on Saturday he looks to have a terrific chance on the ratings to land a significant blow. Formerly placed in a Cheltenham Gold Cup, when at his best, Anibale Fly may have his best behind him these days, but if he can unearth some old form then he has to be considered a key player here.

15:50 Punchestown - Coolmore Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle

Fresh from winning the Aintree Hurdle in sparkling fashion, former Champion Hurdle winner Epatante will be a warm order for the Mares Champion Hurdle on Saturday afternoon, but at a shade of odds-against the Nicky Henderson-trained starlet is worth taking on. Henry De Bromhead's TELMESOMETHINGGIRL was well fancied for the Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but she was brought down during that contest, which was won by Marie's Rock, who runs here. De Bromhead's charge has been kept off the track since then, and providing that hasn't taken anything out of her then she could well land a notable blow. A former winner of the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, she has proven she's a real class act and she can return to winning ways here.

16:25 Punchestown - Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase

Willie Mullins saddled Brahma Bull to victory in this race 12 months ago, and the master of Closutton will unleash a fascinating contender in the shape of CAVALLINO, who will take his chance off a mark of 125 here and with a 5lb claimer on his back then he could well make the most of a featherweight. Yet to get his head in front in his four chase starts, he has bagged two placed efforts with his best performance coming when second to the classy Stratum in a beginners chase on good ground at Thurles back in December. Last seen finishing fifth of 14 in heavy conditions at Clonmel over two-and-a-half miles, he could relish the step back up to three miles, and he could prove to have a little more scope than some of his rivals and he can cause a shock here.

17:00 Punchestown - Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle

VAUBAN and Fil Dor fought out the finish in an epic renewal of the Triumph Hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival, and the pair set for another titanic tussle when they clash in the Grade 1 Champion Four Year Old Hurdle on Saturday afternoon. Despite a sketchy jump at the final flight, Vauban quickened away like a really top notch juvenile, and while Fil Dor is sure to be a notable threat here, it's the Willie Mullins-trained odds-on favourite Vauban that can remain as the champion juvenile and claim victory.

17:30 Punchestown - Tote Always SP Or Better Handicap Hurdle

One of the toughest betting heats on the card is the 17:30 contest, but one contender that stands out and has a huge chance is the Philip Hobbs-trained CAMPROND, who can build on a fine fourth place finish in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, and off a 3lb lower mark he looks to be a cracking bet. Unable to go with the shock winner Commander Of Fleet that day, Camprond showed earlier in the season when winning the Grade 2 Persian War Novices' Hurdle that he's a real top notch performer, and having finished fourth in the Greatwood he then placed in the Coral Cup. The six-year-old will make his first trip to Ireland at the weekend, but off a mark of 137 he can make the frame at the very least, and looks the one to beat.

18:05 Punchestown - Buggyman (Pro/Am) Flat Race

A race full of unknowns really, but it's hard to look away from the Willie Mullins-trained BALLYBAY, who is the selection of Patrick Mullins and the costly purchase could prove to be a cut above his rivals here. Bought for €195,000 as a three-year-old, this son of Walk In The Park is only making his racecourse debut as a five-year-old, but related to the talented Eskylane he could well have some potential over the sticks in the future and is the selection. The betting for this event should certainly throw up some clues, but it could just be wise to stick with the Mullins-trained raider, who is sure to be a prominent figure in the betting.