APPLE’S JADE can bounce back to her best in the Champion Hurdle (5.30).
The mare owes connections nothing after landing 10 Grade 1s including a couple of times at this meeting.
Despite her highs, she is under something of a cloud after another flat effort at Cheltenham was followed by defeat at Aintree last time.
But that was hardly a stinker as she was beaten in a blanket finish trying to force the pace over a trip that extends her.
It’s not like her form has been poor this season as she ran away with three hot contests by a total of 62 lengths before heading to Prestbury Park.
We know she likes this track and most of her rivals have questions to answer too.
Last year’s winner Supasundae battled well to beat Buveur D’Air at Aintree last time and has every chance of confirming those placings. He didn’t enjoy himself in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham before that but this is much more his distance.
Willie Mullins should really have his name on this trophy having won seven of the past nine runnings.
He has the quirky but talented Wicklow Brave who can’t really be trusted and Melon who took a heavy fall at Aintree last time out. Before that he was a gutsy second in the Champion Hurdle — again — at Cheltenham before that but needs to raise his game to figure.
POKER PARTY deserves to step up in class for the 4.20.
His form is on an upward curve and he followed up a good second at Leopardstown with two wins at Naas over a similar distance to this.
He looked to have plenty left in the tank last time and could easily defy a 10lb rise in the handicap.
Scoir Mear is another up the weights after a game win, this time at Navan where he saw out the 3m well. There’s sure to be a good deal of pace on here so his proven stamina will be an asset.
There was lots to like about the way MILL QUEST won at Fairyhouse last time and she can follow up in the 4.55.
This distance brings out the best in her and she returns to handicapping from what looks an attractive mark. It’s telling that Davy Russell keeps the ride and that’s always a plus.
Timeforwest is on the upgrade and battled on well to win a Grade 3 at Cork last time out. Her rider is excellent value for his 7lb claim and she’ll be thereabouts again.
PICK OF THE PUNCH We look back at some epic clashes at the Punchestown FestivalCITY ISLAND is a short price but looks hard to beat in the Champion Novice Hurdle at 6.05.
He was seeing off all comers in lesser ranks before taking a major step up in class to run away with the Ballymore at Cheltenham last time out.
He didn’t seem to hit top gear in victory there and it would be no surprise to see him take another step forward here having missed Aintree.
Battleoverdoyen seemed to go wrong when sent off as favourite for the Ballymore and shouldn’t be written off yet. He is a solid each-way price today and can hit the frame.
UCELLO CONTI has long been a favourite of mine and he came back to his best when winning at Fairyhouse last time out.
He can follow up by taking the Champion Hunters Chase at 6.35. He was poor in the Aintree Foxhunter but ran a solid fifth in the Cheltenham version and this 3m trip and conventional fences suit him well.
Caid Du Berlais is an interesting raider from top English point-to-point handler Rose Loxton. He was pulled up at Cheltenham last time but won this race 12 months ago and the yard has a cracking strike-rate.
Burning Ambition ran a cracker at Aintree last time where he jumped the big fences well. He was just run out of it late on there and this longer distance should be a help.
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