Grade One Champion Stayers Hurdle Punchestown Guide 2023

11-year-old who is arguably in the best form of his career, winning the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, just under a length ahead of the impressive Dashel Drasher and Teahupoo. He then went well again at Aintree earlier this month, winning the Liverpool Hurdle by just over three lengths to Nicky Henderson’s Marie’s Rock and in a contest that he finished fourth in last year, trainer Gordon Elliott will be looking to secure a hat-trick with the gelding here.

The 160-rated hurdler is not to be taken lightly, especially after his last two wins against many here and other top runners.

Henry De Bromhead has one in the Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown with 11-year-old Summerville Boy, who is an experienced runner over obstacles with six wins over his career. Once a winner of the Tolworth and the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, he returned to winning ways at Thurles last month, winning five-runner minor event over 2m 7f, ahead of Asterion Forlonge.

Tough ask here but was seen running well in a grade two at Gowran Park in January, 15 lengths second to Teahupoo. Unlikely winner of this, however.

Willie Mullins sends nine-year-old Klassical Dream to the contest that he has won for the last two years, beating Ashdale Bob by just over a length last year and beating James Du Berlais by nine lengths in 2021. His last win actually came in this contest last year and has since finished runner-up on a couple of occasions (to Teahupoo in Hatton’s Grace) and a disappointing ninth in the Stayers at Cheltenham last month.

He's better than that and it would be crazy to dismiss a horse that has won this for two years running. He’s likely to go well after Cheltenham disappointment. Paul Townend takes the ride.

Very interesting runner for Willie Mullins, nine-year-old Monkfish makes just his second start since 2021, after returning at Fairyhouse earlier this month, finishing half a length behind stablemate Asterion Forlonge to claim second in Grade Two Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle.

The gelding had been unbeaten over hurdles, including winning the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham back in March 2020 and he is lightly raced for a nine-year-old. He makes his first start over hurdles here and Danny Mullins is booked to ride with Paul Townend on Klassical Dream. One to consider.

Willie Mullins has four of the nine runners in this year’s Punchestown Stayers Hurdle, with Asterion Forlonge bidding for a second victory in a row after winning the Grade Two Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle over 2m 4f at Fairyhouse earlier this month, half a length ahead of stablemate Monkfish.

Moves up in trip three furlongs here and Paul Townend prefers to ride Klassical Dream so Patrick Mullins gets the ride on Asterion Forlonge here. Would be wrong to dismiss him but this is tougher.

Eight-year-old Ashdale Bob has now had 12 runs since his last win in 2021, when he claimed success in the Grade Two Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse over 2m 4f. He’s consistently finished in the top places a lot of times over the last two years, but was pulled up in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.

Good second in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown in December when a few of these were below par (Home By The Lee won) provided promise but would be an unlikely winner here. Others make more appeal.

Oliver McKiernan sends seven-year-old Meet And Greet to the Punchestown Stayers Hurdle after finishing a respectable fourth in the Grade One Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree on 15th April, behind Flooring Porter, Marie’s Rock and winner Sire Du Berlais. His last win came at a much lesser level than this, back in February last year when winning Naas maiden he is capable of a good run on his day.

Unlikely to win here and no guarantee of a place but he makes a small appeal for an each-way bet with some decent runs in the last year or so.

Gordon Elliott sends the multiple-graded race winning Teahupoo to Punchestown for the Stayers Hurdle on the back of finishing third in the Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival last month, behind Dashel Drasher and Sire Du Berlais. Able to bounce back here and boasts wins in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle and multiple graded races and looks to add to that here.

If he’s on top form, he is likely to be the one to beat, having finished ahead of these rivals on other occasions including the legendary Honeysuckle when winning the Hatton’s Grace back in December last year. Probably needed to be closer in the Cheltenham Stayers Hurdle, as he stayed on well but could record grade one Punchestown success here.

One of four for Willie Mullins in this contest, seven-year-old Whatdeawant makes his first appearance at this course as the least fancied of the Mullins-trainer runners. The seven-year-old makes his fourth start over hurdles, having won one of those in Navan maiden but that was in December 2021. Third of nine in the Ballymore behind Three Stripe Life and Sir Gerhard last year but that was the last time we saw him over a hurdle.

Much tougher test for the 140-rated hurdler and without completely dismissing him, he would be a shock winner in this field against some top stayers.