17:25 Punchestown

Thursday 28 April 2022

All15:4016:1516:5017:2518:0018:3519:1019:45

Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 17:26 | Winning time: 6m 0.0s

Ashdale Bob⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 151

11/2

Smart hurdler. Good third of 23 in handicap hurdle (14/1) at Cheltenham (21f, soft) 43 days ago. Likely to give another good account back up in grade.

Form: U37323

Gentlemansgame^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: M F Morris| OR: 146| D

10/1

Bounced back to form in a first-time tongue strap/cheekpieces combination when winning 5-runner minor event hurdle at Thurles (23f, good to soft, 11/8) 40 days ago, kept up to work. This is much tougher.

Form: 232-071

Klassical Dream^h⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 163| BF| CD

11/10

High-class hurdler who landed this corresponding event 12 months ago. Added to his tally with victory in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown 8 months on and got back on track when fifth to Flooring Porter in the Stayers' Hurdle last time. Has to be taken seriously.

Form: 35/1-145

Paisley Park^t⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 159| D

7/1

High-class hurdler who landed the Cleeve Hurdle for a third time at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. Finished with running left when third to Flooring Porter in the Stayers' Hurdle there last time and expected to give another good account.

Form: P-33313

Sire Du Berlais^b,t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 160| D

7/1

Made the breakthrough at the top level when landing 8-runner Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree (24.7f, good to soft, 16/1) 19 days ago by 1¾ lengths from Flooring Porter, kept up to work. Solid claims if turning up in similar form.

Form: 2-2P401

Vanillier^t⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 148| C| D

14/1

Impressive winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last season but hasn't quite hit the same heights over fences this term. Back over hurdles.

Form: 4-31333

Concertista^t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: D A Jacob| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| BF

9/1

Smart hurdler who was let down by her jumping on just her third start over fences in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (Liberthine) at Cheltenham (20.6f, good to soft) 41 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles and is unexposed at this trip.

Form: 123-115

Non-Runners

Thedevilscoachman⁶⁵

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: N Meade J: Sean Flanagan

Forecasts

Klassical Dream (11/10), Ashdale Bob (11/2), Sire Du Berlais (7/1), Paisley Park (7/1), Thedevilscoachman (7/1), Concertista (9/1), Gentlemansgame (10/1), Vanillier (14/1)

KLASSICAL DREAM has had a light campaign so there ought to be still some mileage in the tank and he can win this race for a second year running. Sire du Berlais is sure to make his presence felt if turning up in similar form to Aintree, while Concertista makes some appeal back over hurdles given she's unexposed at this trip.