16:15 Punchestown

Friday 1 May 2026

All15:4016:1516:5017:2518:0018:4019:1019:40

Uniquely Champion Hunters Chase

5YO plus | 3m 160y | Yielding | 14 Runners | Turf

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr G Devitt⁽⁷⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 124| C

Good second in 25f Roscommon handicap chase last June but failed to complete next 2 starts and well held on the latest of his 2 starts between the flags in March. Opposable on hunter debut.

Form: 32UP44

Asian Master²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr T Costello⁽⁷⁾| T: A Costello| OR: 140| BF

15/2

Dual hurdles winner for Willie Mullins has done well since joining present yard, winning 2 of his 3 starts between the flags in February/March, Fine second on hunter debut at Cork (2½m, soft) last month and he's a strong each-way candidate.

Form: 9-52112

Big Interest^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D G Lavery| T: D M Christie| D

25/1

Fairly useful hunter chaser in 2024/25 but pulled up in this race 12 months ago and has also failed to complete in 3 of his subsequent half-a-dozen appearances.

Form: 4P8UP3

Cause For Comment³³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: S G Carey| C

8/1

Point winner in February and made it third time lucky in hunters when landing a maiden in decisive fashion at Downpatrick (3m, soft). Remains open to improvement.

Form: 322-211

Five Star Getaway^p²⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J J Berry⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Berry| OR: 115| D

40/1

In good heart between the flags during the past 12 months and made a winning hunter debut back under Rules at Fairyhouse (25f, soft) last time, left clear 2 out. However, much more on his plate here.

Form: 423421

Its On The Line²²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: E Mullins| OR: 140| CD

13/8

Most likeable and dependable hunter chaser who has won the last 3 running of this. Runner-up in the Cheltenham Festival hunter for third year in a row in March before finishing ninth of 24 in the Aintree Foxhunters' over what is probably now an inadequate trip (21f) for this 9-y-o. Leading claims.

Form: 1-41229

Lets Go Champ²²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss S A Carter⁽⁷⁾| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 137| C| D

6/1

Useful chaser for Henry de Bromhead who won an open point in February before making a successful return to Rules in a 25f Gowran hunter the following month, proving a neck too strong for Hunters Yarn. Solid second in the Aintree Foxhunters' last time and another bold show anticipated.

Form: 38P-112

Lifetime Ambition¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J L Scallan⁽⁷⁾| T: P M J Doyle| OR: 139| C| D

12/1

Good third of 29 in the Aintree Foxhunters' last spring and was second to Its On The Line in the 2024 renewal of this race. Point winner during the winter but he was comprehensively outpointed by Panda Boy at Thurles in January (also behind Wonderwall between the flags last time).

Form: 3-32123

Now Where Or When^p,t²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr S Connor⁽⁷⁾| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 122

125/1

Unreliable sort who was beaten a long way in the Fairyhouse hunter won by Five Star Getaway last month.

Form: 234334

Panda Boy^v1⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J L Gleeson| T: M Brassil| OR: 142| C| D

11/2

Delivered assured rounds of jumping when winning first 2 starts in this sphere. Didn't see things out as well as anticipated having belted the third last when fifth of 23 at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but solid claims here nonetheless. Visor applied.

Form: U-83115

Temptationinmilan^t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Ms A T O'Reilly⁽⁷⁾| T: Eamon Courtney| OR: 106

150/1

Fairly useful chaser at best but hasn't made much of an impact switched to hunters on his last 2 starts under Rules.

Form: 90-4P45

Wonderwall^t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr R James⁽⁷⁾| T: S Curling| OR: 140

7/2

Winner of the big Cheltenham Festival hunter last spring. Only seventh in this season's renewal of that race but he was given a lot to do that day and has since demonstrated his wellbeing with a decisive display between the flags. Key player.

Form: 111-171

Wrappedupinmay¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D Doyle⁽⁷⁾| T: S Curling| OR: 118

25/1

Useful bumper/fairly useful hurdle winner for Paul Nicholls and, having won 2 of his 3 starts in points during the winter, he was still bang there when falling 3 out in the Fairyhouse hunter won by Five Star Getaway. Successful between the flags again since and he remains open to improvement.

Form: P-211F1

Dora D'or¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr L P Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 107

25/1

Winner of 4 of her 5 starts in points and also struck on hunter debut at Down Royal in March. Should have more to offer given her low mileage but this demands a significant step forward.

Form: 18-1211

Non-Runners

Hunters Yarn²⁶

Weight: 12-0| Age: 9

T: P M J Doyle J: Mr J W Hendrick

Forecasts

Its On The Line (11/4), Wonderwall (4/1), Panda Boy (5/1), Lets Go Champ (7/1), Wrappedupinmay (8/1), Asian Master (8/1), Hunters Yarn (10/1), Cause For Comment (12/1), Lifetime Ambition (14/1), Big Interest (25/1), Five Star Getaway (33/1), Dora D'or (33/1), Ambitious Fellow (50/1), Now Where Or When (50/1), Temptationinmilan (66/1)

The vote goes to LETS GO CHAMP, who was a winner of a major handicap at this meeting in 2024 and he has made a very positive start in hunters, seeing off Hunters Yarn at Gowran in March before giving it a good shot when runner-up in the Foxhunters' at Aintree. Panda Boy and Its On The Line, fifth and ninth respectively at Aintree, rate the main dangers. The last-named is bidding for a fourth win in a row in this race but Panda Boy is feared most. Wonderwall also enters calculations.