Punchestown Friday Tips: Rhys Williams is taking a two-pronged attack in the Bishopscourt Cup

• Shaped well on return from long absence

• Bounced back last time from poor run

• Matthews Hill is overpriced at Punchestown

Run well since returning from long break

Punchestown 15:40: Matthews Hill 1pt win 10/1

The highlight of the Punchestown Festival opens today's card and it's always one of the most interesting betting races of the week given the collection of moderate form on offer, with most of that recent form coming in the pointing field.

There has been plenty of movement in the early markets but a couple still appeal at the current prices.

Matthews Hill is lightly raced for a seven-year-old having had only four starts. The first of those came back in May 2021 at Lisronagh where he shaped promisingly, staying on strongly in the closing stages to be a fast-finishing fourth. The winner of that race is now rated 107 over hurdles, the second 127 over fences and the fourth is now rated 118 over hurdles.

Matthews Hill was off the track for 658 days before making an eyecatching return at Oldtown. He was still travelling well some way off the leaders entering the home straight and only seemed to be asked for any effort once jumping 2 out, after which he ran on late to finish fourth.

He was very disappointing next time when beaten with over a circuit to go but he was in the process of running much better last time when he was still in front and going well before clipping the top of 2 out and coming down.

In a race where most of these have already shown their limitations, I think Matthews Hill could be capable of better than he's shown so far. There is a slight worry that he might want more of a test of stamina than this but I think the market is currently underestimating his chance and any 8/1 or bigger appeals.

Has ability if jumping holds up

Punchestown 15:40: Chateau Elan 1pt win 22/1

Chateau Elan's jumping is clearly a concern but if he puts in a clear round I think he has a far better chance than his big price suggests.

He made his debut at the point to point track at Punchestown in the hunt race last year and ran respectably to finish second to Alpha Male and ahead of Speaker Thomas and An Droichead Gorm who are towards the front of the market today.

He was in a leading line of five when coming down halfway down the back straight next time and then ran well at Lingstown when finishing fourth after being hampered and carried wide after jumping 2 out.

Chateau Elan has failed to complete in all three starts since, the first of those being in a Limerick hunter chase when he was never put in a race or asked for any effort and unseated at the last when well behind. He was starting to make a little ground from the back of the field when unseating at Oldtown next time in the maiden where Matthews Hill finished fourth and he hadn't been asked for any effort when he was badly hampered and unseated rider last time out at Borris House.

It may turn out that his jumping will be an issue today or that he will be held up and never put into the race yet again but I think he has the ability to be competitive in a race of this quality if everything clicks and any 14/1 or bigger appeals.