100-1 to 8-1: Punchestown punters latch on to Tyner's Design Matters

Bookmakers are on the back foot before racing on the first day of the Punchestown festival after an eyecatching move for bumper runner Design Matters, who is 8-1 after being 100-1 last night.

Design Matters, well beaten in two maiden hurdles this year, is bidding to give his trainer Robert Tyner a hat-trick in the bumper at 6.05 after wins with subsequent Listed hurdle winner Vision Des Flos (12-1) under Derek O'Connor last year and Coeur De Lion (22-1) who like Design Matters had shown little in two maiden hurdles before his win in 2016.

The four-year-old Design Matters was beaten 119 lengths on debut and 59 lengths next time and was sent off 33-1 first time and 66-1 at Cork on April 1.

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: "We went 100-1 at 4pm yesterday and punters dived in with small each-way bets. The biggest bet we took then was £50 each-way at 66-1 with the general bets being a tenner or 20 each-way.

"Punters may have latched onto our each-way terms of paying on the first four and it would be a disastrous start to the meeting if Robert pulls off the treble in the race."

It was a similar story at Corals, with the Stratford-based firm's David Stevens reporting: "We opened up at 66-1 and saw a few small bets at this price but, with the price soon collapsing across the market and with the trainer’s excellent recent record in the race, we were soon on red alert.

"As it stands it’s a five-figure loser for us, but we’ve got plenty still running for us in what is sure to be a competitive heat,”

Even steady rain through the morning failed to dampen the gamble despite Tyner telling the Racing Postthat the forecast better ground would improve his chances.

Tyner said: "It was heavy ground both days he ran and he travelled well to a point each time but just got bogged down in the conditions. We’re hoping the nicer ground might improve him a bit. We’re just hopeful more than anything."

Tyner has neither had a bumper winner this year nor a winner at Punchestown from a dozen runners.

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