Grade One Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle Punchestown Guide 2023

Gordon Elliott has one here in the form of six-year-old Amir Kabir, who has made a good start over hurdles after 17 runs on the flat between 2019-2022. After winning at Roscommon on debut he was thrust into listed company next time out at Galway, finishing second before winning 2m novice at Listowel, three lengths ahead of Flaming Moon.

The gelding then stepped into graded company for the first time on his latest outing, finishing third in the Grade Two Cafe En Seine Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse earlier this month, behind a couple of good runners in the form of Hunters Yarn and Hercule Du Seuil.

Up in trip now, we don’t know how he will handle that but cannot be dismissed with his form over hurdles so far.

Joseph O’Brien’s sole runner in this is High Definition, who has made an indifferent start to life over hurdles after two wins in 14 races on the flat. He won at Leopardstown on debut in 27-runner maiden before unseating in the Grade One Ireland Novice Hurdle won by Il Etait Temps at Leopardstown in February. Seventh in the Supreme at Cheltenham last time out after leading for some of the contest before heading here.

Most would be an unlikely winner of this with the favourite looking tough to beat and he will need to improve a lot after that run.

Willie Mullins sends Champ Kiely to the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown after the seven-year-old finished third of ten in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival last month, behind stablemates Gaelic Warrior and Impaire Et Passe. Already boasts wins in the Grade One Lawlor Of Naas Novice Hurdle and a grade three at Tipperary in his career but may find fellow runner Impaire Et Passe too good here.

Merits consideration based on his start to life over hurdles but similar to the Champion Hurdle on Friday, where rivals are bidding to be the best of the rest behind State Man, it may be looking the same here with Impaire Et Passe a strong favourite.

130-rated hurdler who enters this contest after a good start to life over hurdles since winning a couple of bumpers at Kilbeggan and Listowel last year. The six-year-old finished second on hurdling debut at Naas (behind Bialystok) before winning 17-runner Navan maiden last month as well as finishing second in grade two novice at Fairyhouse earlier this month to Willie Mullins’ Nick Rockett.

Shouldn’t be discounted considering his decent form over hurdles but steps into grade one company for the first time now. Interesting to see how he handles it and Impaire Et Passe looks a worthy favourite. Possible place claims.

Gavin Cromwell sends one to the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in the form of five-year-old Inothewayurthinkin. The 137-rated hurdler hasn’t managed to make much of an impression in top company so far, finishing fourth in the Grade One Lawlor Of Naas Novice Hurdle behind winner Champ Kiely and third of five in listed event over 2m at Navan in February, finishing behind Imagine and winner Hunters Yarn.

The five-year-old can improve more but this will be tougher for him. Impaire Et Passe looks unbeatable right now and that will probably remain the case here.

Willie Mullins has two in the Champion Novice Hurdle with Champ Kiely and market leader Impaire Et Passe. The latter arrives unbeaten, having won Naas maiden by 18 lengths, Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle by six and a half lengths and winning the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month by six and a half lengths again to Gaelic Warrior, who has since gone on to win the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle here.

The five-year-old is probably the best of the novice hurdlers at the moment and will take some stopping here. The one to beat and it would be a surprise if he didn’t make it four out of four over hurdles. Paul Townend takes the ride.