17:00 Punchestown

Saturday 29 April 2023

All14:3515:1015:5016:2517:0017:3018:0518:40

Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 17:02 | Winning time: 3m 58.10s

Jacovec Cavern^h⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R Deegan| T: P Hennessy| OR: 110

200/1

Fairly useful Flat winner but still a maiden over hurdles and well behind Lossiemouth and Gala Marceau in the Triumph at Cheltenham.

Form: 6068

Nusret^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 130| CD

18/1

Fairly useful Flat winner who bagged the Grade 2 Adonis Hurdle at Kempton in February but seemed to have his limitations at the highest level exposed when 5 lengths third to Zenta (who was behind Lossiemouth and Gala Marceau at Cheltenham) in the Anniversary at Aintree 16 days ago.

Form: 13313

Your Honor¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Gavin Brouder| T: J Nash| OR: 120| D

125/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Respectable fourth of 8 in handicap hurdle (9/2) at Ballinrobe (17.4f, soft) 15 days ago, doing too much too soon. Very stiff task.

Form: 777514

Zarak The Brave¹⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135| BF| D

17/2

French Flat recruit who made an encouraging start to his hurdle career at Fairyhouse in November and stepped up on that form when 4 lengths second of 10 to stablemate Lossiemouth in Grade 3 there in December. Given a break since. Definitely more to come.

Form: 12

Cinsa⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins

100/1

Fair hurdler. 20¾ lengths seventh of 15 to Lossiemouth in Triumph Hurdle (200/1) at Cheltenham (17f, good to soft) 43 days ago. Surely vulnerable again.

Form: 4-67

Enjoy The Dream¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: A McNamara| D

14/1

Fairly useful Flat winner. Left hurdle debut well behind when winning Grade 2 juvenile at Fairyhouse (2m, soft) over Easter. Potential for better again but it will be required.

Form: 31

Gala Marceau^h⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| D

11/4

Edged out Lossiemouth in Grade 1 company at the Dublin Racing Festival but found her stablemate too strong for a second time when runner-up in the Triumph at Cheltenham. Looks sure to go well but might be the bridesmaid again.

Form: 1-1212

Lossiemouth⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141| D

1/2

Met trouble when second to Gala Marceau at the Dublin Racing Festival and turned the tables on her stablemate with an impressive performance in the Triumph at Cheltenham last month. It's hard to see past her.

Form: 1-1121

Forecasts

Lossiemouth (1/2), Gala Marceau (11/4), Zarak The Brave (17/2), Enjoy The Dream (14/1), Nusret (18/1), Cinsa (100/1), Your Honor (125/1), Jacovec Cavern (200/1)

This is likely to be another Willie Mullins domination, with LOSSIEMOUTH taken to confirm last month's Cheltenham superiority over Gala Marceau. The returning Zarak The Brave likely has more to offer and can make it another 1-2-3 in a Grade 1 juvenile this season for his all-conquering stable.