All star cast for Punchestown drama
NO LESS Than 12 of the 15 Grade 1 and 2 winners from the Cheltenham Festival have been given entries for next week’s Punchestown Festival, with many of the big-race heroes from Aintree also engaged.
One of the clashes of the season is set for the second day — Wednesday, April 26 — when the 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Sizing John is set to meet the 2015 winner Coneygree in the €250,000 Grade 1 Coral Punchestown Gold Cup.
The Festival looks set to kick off on a bright note with the €250,000 Grade 1 Boylesports Champion Chase on Tuesday, April 25. Un De Sceaux, winner of the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, is expected to represent Willie Mullins while Fox Norton, six-length winner of the Melling Chase at Aintree, could run for Colin Tizzard.
The feature Grade 1 €250,000 Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle on Thursday, April 27 promises to be another fabulous race. The first three in Cheltenham’s Grade 1 Stayers Hurdle — Nichols Canyon, Lil Rockerfeller and Unowhatimeanharry — are likely starters while trainer Warren Greatrex has kept last year’s winner One Track Mind fresh ahead of another trip to Punchestown. Superstar mare Annie Power could have her first start for over a year in the 3m contest, while Saturday’s Ryanair Liverpool Stayers Hurdle hero Yanworth is another entry.
Annie Power and Arctic Fire have also been given a two-mile option in the €250,000 Grade 1 Betdaq Punchestown Champion Hurdle on Friday, April 28, in which Nicky Henderson expects to be double-handed. Buveur D’Air, winner of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Aintree Hurdle, holds an entry although Henderson expects that it is more likely that he will be represented by My Tent Or Yours — runner-up in both those contests — and Brain Power.
Star females get a chance to shine on Saturday, April 29, in the Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Mares’ Champion Hurdle. The likes of Annie Power, Apple’s Jade, Let’s Dance, and Vroum Vroum Mag are engaged as well as last year’s winner Whiteout.