18:00 Punchestown

Thursday 2 May 2024

All15:4016:1516:5017:2518:0018:3519:0519:40

Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 18:00 | Winning time: 5m 56.00s

Asterion Forlonge^t³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| C| D

13/2

Very smart hurdler/chaser at his best. Won 2-runner Imperial Call Chase at Cork (24f, heavy) 32 days ago by 14 lengths from Lucid Dreams. Creditable 11¾ lengths sixth of 12 to Teahupoo in Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham prior to that.

Form: 2-05261

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Buddy One¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: J G Gilligan| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 153| D

17/2

Smart hurdler. Latest win in hurdle at Cheltenham in November. Creditable 4¼ lengths second of 10 to Strong Leader in Liverpool Hurdle (15/2) at Aintree (24.7f, good to soft) 19 days ago.

Form: 115P42

Franciscan Rock^p,t⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Ricky Doyle| T: M F Morris| OR: 135| D

66/1

Useful hurdler. Creditable fifth of 21 in handicap hurdle (50/1) at Cheltenham (21f, heavy) 50 days ago. Difficult ask.

Form: 33-F475

Home By The Lee^b⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 155| D

15/2

Very smart hurdler. Eight wins from 25 NH runs. 16/1 and blinkered for 1st time, good 6 lengths third of 12 to Teahupoo in Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham (24f, soft) 49 days ago, rallying.

Form: 15P-353

Monkfish¹⁹

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

18/1

Very smart hurdler/chaser. Won a Grade 2 hurdle at Gowran on reappearance. Pulled up in Cheltenham Gold Cup next time but respectable 17¾ lengths fourth of 10 to Strong Leader in Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree (24.7f, good to soft, 8/1) since.

Form: 2/29-1P4

No Looking Back^h1,t1³⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan| OR: 138

100/1

Useful hurdler. 17½ lengths third of 5 to Facile Vega in Champion Novices' Hurdle at this course (16.4f, good to soft, 66/1). Off 12 months. Hooded for 1st time, tongue strap on for 1st time. Hard Ask.

Form: 4/11203-

Sire Du Berlais^b,t⁴⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 152| D

14/1

High-class hurdler. 14/1, respectable 10¾ lengths fifth of 12 to Teahupoo in Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham (24f, soft) 49 days ago, finishing well. Third in this last year and each-way claims again.

Form: 4113-75

Summerville Boy⁴⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 140| BF| D

40/1

Useful hurdler. 8/13, creditable second of 5 in minor event hurdle at Thurles (22.9f, heavy) 47 days ago, just failing. Stiff task in this company.

Form: 16-0222

Teahupoo⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 164| D

5/6

High-class hurdler who made it back-to-back wins in the Grade 1 Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on his reappearance in December and followed up in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham 3 months later. Hard to beat.

Form: 1134-11

Lantry Lady^t⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 140

9/1

From family of Annie Power and has made a very promising start to her career, winning twice at Gowran (Grade 2 latterly) before acquitting herself really well on only third start when 12½ lengths fourth of 11 to Lossiemouth in Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham (2½m, heavy) 51 days ago. 3m should suit.

Form: 1-14

Whatcouldhavebeen^p³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Kelly| T: J P Fahey| OR: 137

50/1

Useful hurdler. 14/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, career best when winning 8-runner handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (22.2f, heavy) 31 days ago, responding well. Another chunk of improvement will be needed to get heavily involved here.

Form: 28-4351

Forecasts

Teahupoo (5/6), Asterion Forlonge (13/2), Home By The Lee (15/2), Buddy One (17/2), Lantry Lady (9/1), Sire Du Berlais (14/1), Monkfish (18/1), Summerville Boy (40/1), Whatcouldhavebeen (50/1), Franciscan Rock (66/1), No Looking Back (100/1)

TEAHUPOO had a few of these in behind him in the Stayers' at Cheltenham last month and can underline he's the class act in this division at present by following up here. Cheltenham third Home By The Lee might be the one to chase him home ahead of the selection's stablemate Sire du Berlais, who was third in this 12 months ago.