17:25 Punchestown

Thursday 27 April 2023

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

Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 17:27 | Winning time: 5m 55.9s

Ashdale Bob⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Keith Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 150

11/1

Smart hurdler. Twelve runs since last win in 2021. Pulled up in Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham (24f, good to soft, 25/1) 42 days ago (race won by Sire Du Berlais), folding in the home straight. Others preferred.

Form: 32-342P

Asterion Forlonge^t¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| BF| C

8/1

High-class chaser. Made it 3-5 in this sphere when landing the 6-runner Ballybin Hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, soft, 11/8) 17 days ago by ½ length from Monkfish, driven out. Townend prefers Klassical Dream.

Form: UF47-21

Klassical Dream^h⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 160| CD

3/1

High-class hurdler. 34 lengths ninth of 11 to Sire Du Berlais in Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham (24f, good to soft, 15/2) 42 days ago. Has won the last two runnings of this and likely to make a bold bid to defend his crown.

Form: 451-229

Meet And Greet¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan| OR: 149

10/1

Smart hurdler. Creditable 17¼ lengths fourth of 10 to Sire Du Berlais in Liverpool Hurdle (16/1) at Aintree (24.7f, good) 12 days ago. No more than an each-way squeak.

Form: 3-03424

Monkfish¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| BF| D

9/2

Top-class chaser. ½-length second of 6 to Asterion Forlonge in Ballybin Hurdle at Fairyhouse (20f, soft, 11/4) 17 days ago, keeping on well. Good chance he'll reverse those placings with his stablemate back up in trip here.

Form: 11112/2

Sire Du Berlais^b,t¹²

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

7/1

High-class hurdler. 8/1, career best when winning 10-runner Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree (24.7f, good) 12 days ago by 3¼ lengths from Marie's Rock, staying on strongly. Clearly at the top of his game.

Form: 55P411

Summerville Boy⁴⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 144

33/1

Smart hurdler. Won 5-runner minor event hurdle at Thurles (23.2f, soft, 4/1) 40 days ago by 4½ lengths from Asterion Forlonge. This is much tougher.

Form: 55/5-421

Teahupoo⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: G Elliott| OR: 162| BF| D

3/1

High-class hurdler. Creditable ¾-length third of 11 to Sire Du Berlais in Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham (24f, good to soft, 9/4) 42 days ago, faring best of those held up. Big player.

Form: 196-113

Whatdeawant¹⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140

22/1

Useful hurdler. 13/2, third of 8 in novice chase at Gowran (20f, heavy) on debut over fences 152 days ago. Switches from chase to hurdles. Appears to be the least-fancied of the Willie Mullins-trained quartet.

Form: 13/153-3

Forecasts

Klassical Dream (3/1), Teahupoo (3/1), Monkfish (9/2), Sire Du Berlais (7/1), Asterion Forlonge (8/1), Meet And Greet (10/1), Ashdale Bob (11/1), Whatdeawant (22/1), Summerville Boy (33/1)

TEAHUPOO wasn't seen to best effect when a close third to Sire du Berlais in the Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and, still unexposed as a stayer, he is taken to emerge on top this time. To his credit, Sire Du Berlais subsequently produced another career-best when following up at Aintree and he won't go down without a fight. Klassical Dream can be expected to make a bold bid to win this race for the third consecutive, while stablemate Monkfish is a fascinating contender.