17:30 Punchestown

Friday 27 April 2018

All15:4016:2016:5517:3018:0518:4019:1019:45

Betdaq 2% Commission Punchestown Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 4m 0.9s

Bleu Berry²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| D

40/1

Coral Cup winner at Cheltenham last month (2m5f), gamely beating Topofthegame by a neck. Disappointing subsequently at Fairyhouse over Easter (fourth), and will surely come up short over 2m against these top class rivals.

Form: 115-014

Coquin Mans²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 158| D

14/1

Had a fairly quiet campaign overall, but is progressive, winning well at Fairyhouse over Easter (2m4f heavy), beating stablemate Bleu Berry and nine others. Has previous with Melon (at Down Royal) and worthy of at least a try in Grade 1 company.

Form: 1122S1

Melon⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 165| D

11/4

Always very highly regarded and seemingly finally fulfilling that promise. Produced a career best effort when bustling up the brilliant Buveur D'Air in the Champion Hurdle last month, so the obvious horse to beat if able to replicate.

Form: 22-1352

Samcro⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 158| CD

5/6

Unbeaten novice who continues to flourish and looks every inch the real deal. Stamped his class all over plenty of talented rivals in the Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival (2m5f), but this is a much sterner test. Unbeaten in two starts here.

Form: 11-1111

Supasundae¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 164| BF| C| D

7/1

Versatile high class performer who saw off Faugheen in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in February (soft) on his last run over this 2m trip. Rock solid over further since; Stayers Hurdle (3m) and Aintree Hurdle (2m4f) runner up. Respected.

Form: 2-32122

The Game Changer^t³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 139| CD

66/1

Been a grand servant for connections, winning 12 times in 51 career starts. However, yet to pick up the baton following a wind op and better known as a chaser. Hard to fancy here and clearly lining up solely with the trainers' championship in mind.

Form: 1P4478

Wicklow Brave^b⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 164| CD

12/1

Top class Flat performer (2016 Irish St Leger winner) but also useful over hurdles; lining up to defend his race crown after beating My Tent Or Yours by 1½L in 2017. Looks a much deeper race this year and came up short in the Champion Hurdle latest.

Form: 033/71-7

Non-Runners

Min³

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: W P Mullins J: N D Fehily

Forecasts

Samcro (5/6), Melon (11/4), Supasundae (7/1), Wicklow Brave (12/1), Coquin Mans (14/1), Min (14/1), Bleu Berry (40/1), The Game Changer (66/1)

Wicklow Brave returns to Punchestown seeking a second success in this contest, but one of five representatives from Closutton, he'll be hard pushed to do so. Mullins also saddles Coquin Mans, Min, Bleu Berry and the Champion Hurdle runner up MELON. The latter has always held star-billing, but he's slowly beginning to live up to the hype, and a reproduction of his neck defeat to Buveur D'Air ought to prove good enough. The brilliant novice Samcro has proved unbeatable so far, and truthfully looks to be the real deal, but this rates as by far his sternest test yet at the end of a tough season, whilst the stayer Supasundae merits consideration.