Today's Tips: Identity Thief should be suited by shorter trip at Punchestown

The two-mile rated hurdle, which has attracted just three runners, on today’s card at Punchestown looks a match between Identity Thief and Modem, and the former is fancied to make light of the lack of a recent run by landing the spoils for Henry de Bromhead.

The lightly raced five-year-old was impressive on debut, in a bumper, beating the useful Tully East, and followed up with a narrow win over Snow Falcon on his hurdling debut, last December.

He was pitched in at the deep end next time, when pulled up behind Nichols Canyon, but bounced back to form when runner-up to Sempre Medici in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse. On his final start, at this track, he travelled like the winner turning into the straight but finished well beaten in third place behind Walk To Freedom.