Grade One Champion Hurdle Punchestown Guide 2023

Experienced hurdler for the leading Irish trainer Willie Mullins, who has three in this race. The ten-year-old boasts multiple graded successes in his career and is still running at a good level, finishing second to State Man in the Morgiana Hurdle, third in the Matheson Hurdle as well as fourth in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last month and second, three lengths to Constitution Hill in Aintree Hurdle earlier this month.

State Man looks a very good favourite and a tough one to beat, so Sharjah is bidding to finish as the best of the rest and his last run against Constitution Hill provides every hope that he can do so.

Gordon Elliott sends two to the Punchestown Champion Hurdle, in the shape of Pied Piper and Zanahiyr. The latter arrives here after a good run in the Aintree Hurdle earlier this month, finishing just behind Sharjah and a few lengths behind winner Constitution Hill. 66/1 in the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle last month and managed to claim third, which was his best effort for a while and probably the best he could offer again here.

Possible place claims after his last run but will probably find a few too good again. State Man is the one to beat and if any were to do so, Zanahiyr probably would be overlooked by the Willie Mullins runners Vauban and Sharjah. Not dismissed, however.

Gordon Elliott sends Pied Piper to the Punchestown Champion Hurdle after his five-year-old finished second to Faivoir in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, ahead of fellow runner Sharjah here, who finished fourth. He has failed to make his mark on his last two grade one outings, fourth in the Irish Champion Hurdle and fifth in Matheson Hurdle behind a few here but is one of the younger ones in this contest, which could help him.

Not dismissed but unlikely to win based on his last few outings against many in this race. Bidding to finish in the top three more than likely.

Willie Mullins sends his 166-rated hurdler State Man to the Punchestown Champion Hurdle on the back of finishing second in the Cheltenham version, finishing nine lengths behind the unbeaten freak Constitution Hill. Very much the one to beat here, with the six-year-old already boasting the Irish Champion Hurdle, Matheson Hurdle, Morgiana Hurdle and the County Hurdle amongst his six wins over hurdles.

He's amongst three that Mullins sends to this contest, and he looks to be the second best in this division behind Constitution Hill, who doesn’t run here after his Aintree success earlier this month. Hard to see State Man being beaten here.

Lorna Fowler has one in this contest, with eight-year-old Colonel Mustard making his return to grade one company after finishing second in Ayr Scottish Champion Hurdle last time out, three lengths behind winner Rubaud. Third in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last year, behind Pied Piper and State Man but his last win over hurdles came back in 2021, winning Galway maiden over 2m.

Difficult to make a case for him here back in grade one company and the others in this race make more appeal on recent form.

Top class hurdler for Willie Mullins who was maybe slightly disappointing last time out, when finishing fourth in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham when expected to finish in the top three. However, has been regularly in the places over the last year, winning the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham last year as well as second to State Man in the Matheson Hurdle and third in the Irish Champion Hurdle behind winner State Man again and Honeysuckle, who was second.

All the Mullins runners in this boast good form and Vauban has a solid chance of finishing second, as State Man looks a very tough one to beat here. Likely to be the best of the rest.