17:25 Punchestown

Thursday 29 April 2021

All15:4016:1516:5017:2518:0018:3519:0519:35

Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 17:28 | Winning time: 5m 56.90s

Agrapart^t³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Craig Williams| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 146| D

150/1

Smart hurdler. One win from 3 runs last season. 18/1, improved to win 11-runner handicap hurdle at Kelso (25.8f, soft) 33 days ago, suited by emphasis on stamina. Uphill task back at this level.

Form: 2-88461

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Bacardys^p1,t⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| C| D

50/1

Smart hurdler. 50/1, respectable 21¾ lengths seventh of 15 to Flooring Porter in Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham (24f, good to soft) 42 days ago. Headgear on 1st time. Patiently ridden.

Form: 43-4P57

Beacon Edge⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 158| C

5/1

High-class hurdler. Course winner. Excellent 5½ lengths fourth of 15 to Flooring Porter in Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham 42 days ago, shaping second best. Still on the upgrade and considered.

Form: 113314

Diol Ker^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: N Meade| OR: 151| D

66/1

Smart hurdler. Latest win in hurdle at Limerick in December. Respectable 15¾ lengths ninth of 15 to Thyme Hill in Stayers Hurdle (Liverpool) at Aintree (24.7f, good to soft, 11/1) 19 days ago.

Form: F34129

Flooring Porter^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 164| D

10/3

High-class hurdler. Further progress when winning 15-runner Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham (good to soft) 42 days ago by 3¼ lengths from Sire Du Berlais, making all in a good time. The one to beat.

Form: 132111

French Dynamite^p,t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: M F Morris| OR: 150| BF| D

12/1

Smart hurdler. Good 1¼ lengths second of 6 to Stormy Ireland in Underwriting Exchange Hurdle (Ballybin) (85/40) at Fairyhouse (20f, good to soft) 24 days ago. Tongue strap back on. More needed.

Form: 14-2512

Fury Road^t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 154| C| D

11/1

Smart and likeable hurdler who was narrowly denied by Beacon Edge in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan. Excuses when well backed for Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham. Worth another chance.

Form: 43-142P

Klassical Dream^h1⁴⁸⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 157| BF| C

5/1

Very smart hurdler, including 3 Grade 1 wins as a novice. Off since finishing last of 5 in Grade 1 hurdle at Leopardstown 16 months ago. Significantly up in trip and hood on 1st time.

Form: 111/135-

Ronald Pump^t¹⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: M J Smith| OR: 157| D

17/2

Smart hurdler. Creditable ½-length second of 6 to Honeysuckle in Hatton's Grace Hurdle (11/1) at Fairyhouse (20f, soft) 151 days ago, closing all way to line. Return to 3m a plus and respected.

Form: 2242-F2

Saldier⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 156| C

10/1

Smart hurdler. Course winner. 80/1, 15 lengths seventh of 10 to Honeysuckle in Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham (16.4f, good to soft) 44 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Bit to prove.

Form: 1F/1-667

Sole Pretender^h²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr J J Codd| T: N Lee| OR: 150

18/1

Smart hurdler. Career best when winning 8-runner minor event hurdle (14/1) at Cork (16f, good to soft) 25 days ago, readily. Significantly up in trip. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 211/15-1

The Storyteller⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 155| C| D

14/1

Rarely runs a bad race and was in front of Gold Cup winner Minella Indo at Leopardstown in February. Excuses back over hurdles at Cheltenham and this versatile sort is on the shortlist.

Form: 211225

James Du Berlais⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155

16/1

Smart hurdler for Robert Collet in France, winning 3 times at listed/Graded level before close second in Auteuil Grade 1. Well held in Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on first start for this yard.

Form: 212129

Heaven Help Us^p⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Richard Condon| T: P Hennessy| OR: 144

25/1

Smart hurdler. Career best when winning 26-runner handicap hurdle (Coral Cup) at Cheltenham (21f, good to soft, 33/1) 43 days ago, seen to maximum effect. More needed again at this level.

Form: 754411

Non-Runners

Mrs Milner⁴²

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: P Nolan J: B J Cooper

Forecasts

Flooring Porter (10/3), Klassical Dream (5/1), Beacon Edge (5/1), Ronald Pump (17/2), Saldier (10/1), Fury Road (11/1), French Dynamite (12/1), The Storyteller (14/1), James Du Berlais (16/1), Mrs Milner (16/1), Sole Pretender (18/1), Heaven Help Us (25/1), Bacardys (50/1), Diol Ker (66/1), Agrapart (150/1)

FLOORING PORTER has improved out of all recognition, winning his first handicap from a mark of just 105 and now potentially looking the dominant staying hurdler after his impressive all-the-way success in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham. Beacon Edge was an excellent fourth behind the selection at the Festival on his first attempt at this trip and rates the main threat ahead of Ronald Pump.