17:30 Punchestown

Thursday 2 May 2019

All15:4016:1516:5017:3018:0518:4019:1519:45

Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 6m 1.80s

Aux Ptits Soins²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 156| D

4/1

Decisive winner of Grade 3 handicap at Aintree last month over extended-three-miles. He has come up short in Grade 1 company previously but, if ever there's a slightly windy one, this might be it

Form: 28/5171-

Bacardys⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155| C| D

8/1

Again failed to give his best at Cheltenham in March in equivalent race, was Champion Novice at this meeting in 2017 (2m4f) but very disappointing 12 months ago as stablemate Faugheen romped home in this (sent off 4-1 second fav).

Form: FF0/7F6-

Bapaume^t1⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 160| C

9/4

Grade 1 winner at this meeting in 2017 as a four-year-old over 2m, two fine efforts in defeat recently over 3m, including 8L fourth in Cheltenham Stayers' Hurdle behind Paisley Park. Likely sort.

Form: 214324-

Cracking Smart^p,t⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 149| C| D

8/1

Looked potentially smart last season but hasn't been in the same form this time around, better effort in Coral Cup (2m5f, soft) at Cheltenham latest. Has won over 3m before.

Form: 122-630

Dortmund Park^t¹⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| C

8/1

Decisive Grade 1-winning hurdler landing the Champion Novices' (2m4f, soft) at this meeting a year ago. Twice run poorly in graded races won by Apple's Jade this season. Has to step up considerably to compete in this sort of company.

Form: 1481-59

Killultagh Vic^p1¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| BF| CD

16/1

3m Grade 1 winner at this track in 2015 over fences. Ran a stormer in third behind Presenting Percy in Galmoy Hurdle (3m, soft) in January at Gowran Park. Just denied in Grade 3 chase at Cork most recently.

Form: P53402-

Not Many Left^p¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 142| D

11/2

Progressive this season over timber, winning at Huntingdon in January before commendable placed efforts in Pertemps Final at Cheltenham and Fairyhouse Grade 2 (2m4f, good to yielding) latest. Needs extra again.

Form: 32-4132

Prince Of Scars^p1⁹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 145| D

66/1

Lightly-raced gelding who has clearly had his training problems. Finished sixth of 11 beaten 25L behind Presenting Percy in a Grade 2 contest when last seen in January at Gowran Park. First-time cheekpieces could signal an improved run.

Form: 236P3/6-

Unowhatimeanharry^p,t²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: H Fry| OR: 151| CD

16/1

Won a barnstorming renewal of this race in 2017, has struggled at the top level since however. Newbury winner in November but comes here off the back of poor run in Aintree Stayers' Hurdle. Softer surface might help.

Form: 0/31F80-

Vision Des Flos^t⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 151| C

10/1

Won the Grade 2 National Spirit at Fontwell in February (2m3f, good to soft; 7-2), but since disappointed in Coral Cup at Cheltenham. First run over 3m, UK raider for yard that have had success here before (3-20 at track).

Form: 352310-

Forecasts

Bapaume (9/4), Aux Ptits Soins (4/1), Not Many Left (11/2), Bacardys (8/1), Dortmund Park (8/1), Cracking Smart (8/1), Vision Des Flos (10/1), Unowhatimeanharry (16/1), Killultagh Vic (16/1), Prince Of Scars (66/1)

A typically strong hand here for Willie Mullins, with three of the ten-runner field. With winning form at this meeting and a credible run behind Paisley Park at Cheltenham, Bapaume is the most appealing on current form. Killultagh Vic shouldn't be dismissed though Bacardys was very disappointing in this last year. He's come up short at this level before but AUX PTITS SOINS stormed home at Aintree last time to win a handicap and, with that career-best behind him, will surely not find a better Grade 1 opportunity. The progressive Not Many Left is much better suited back up in trip after a recent run at Fairyhouse.