The Irish horse racing broadcaster offers up three selections for Friday at Punchestown, including two in the big race of the day, the Boodles Champion Hurdle.
The big match-up of the week finally arrives on day four of the festival and despite falling on his last two starts CONSTITUTION HILL / simply has to be the pick to deny State Man a hat-trick of wins in the Boodles Champion Hurdle.
There can be little doubt that Nicky Henderson’s star is the most talented member of the line-up for the €300,000 feature event and even money looks a perfectly fair price about the former champion eliminating the jumping blemishes as he has his first start under rules on these shores under James Bowen.
It’s great to have Champion Hurdle heroine Golden Ace in the field. She didn’t really get the credit she deserved at Cheltenham after State Man’s final flight fall (I personally think she would have got very close to the Mullins horse had he stood up) and could easily be a major factor once more. However it’s another classy mare who may offer the best value in the without the favourite market as KARGESE / looks well worth an interest “two chances”.
Part of a particularly strong crop of juveniles last season, she was notching her second top level success when landing the champion four year-old hurdle here at the 2024 festival and comes into this on a real high after cashing in on a tasty handicap mark in the County Hurdle in March. Expect Danny Mullins to play his cards as late as possible in order to maximise his gains.
Not much stands out on a weakish supporting card. I was impressed by Theatre Native at Cheltenham a fortnight ago but she faces much stronger opposition in the €100,000 novice chase at 5.25. Round two of The Yellow Clay versus Final Demand in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle will be exciting if both horses bring their A game once more but I’m happy to watch this time.
I am however prepared to chance KING JON OLIVER / each-way in the finale. It’s always worth noting when a horse goes into a bumper after running over hurdles and there was a lot to like about this five year-old’s debut effort at Naas just under a month ago. With the anticipated improvement for that experience he shouldn’t be too far away.
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