THE first two from the Champion Hurdle face off again in the Punchestown version on Friday evening and it’s hard to see anything but another victory for the admirably consistent State Man.
Willie Mullins’ charge was the big beneficiary from the absence of Constitution Hill at Cheltenham this year but deserves credit for the CV he has put together.
The Doctor Dino gelding is aiming to reach double figures for top level wins today and he has been a fantastic horse in his own right.
He readily outpointed Irish Point at Prestbury Park last time and he should have too much for that rival again as he looks to repeat last year’s victory in this race.
Irish Point was re-routed to the Champion Hurdle due to a lack of depth in the race last month and he’s going to pick up another good cheque here.
It’s a similar story in the other Grade One on the card, with Ballyburn set to be an unbackable price for most punters.
He comes here seeking his Grade One hat-trick after impressive victories at the Dublin Racing Festival and most recently at Cheltenham.
The Flemensfirth gelding was a banker in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle last time and there was never a moment of doubt as he dismissed stablemate Jimmy Du Seuil by 13 lengths.
Mullins saddles four of the six runners in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle and it would be a major shock if the exciting Ballyburn got turned over.
Earlier on the card, the novice handicap chase looks more of a betting proposition.
Mullins has dominated this race in recent years and has three in the two-and-a-half-mile contest this time.
Paul Townend partners the top-weight Mister Policeman and he has to be respected stepping up in trip.
Preference, though, is for Tactical Move who looks nicely treated off his mark of 145.
The Stowaway gelding chased home a top-class prospect in pillane’s Tower at Fairyhouse last time in Grade One company and that rival franked the form the other day here.
Tactical Move is still relatively lightly-raced despite being 10 years old and this looks a nice race for him.
Mullins will also be hoping to collect in the Grade Two mares’ contest with Allegorie De Vassy.
Her form can be a little bit hit and miss but she looks like the class act against these rivals.
In the following Champion Hunters Chase, Derek O’Connor can work his magic again on Its On The Line.
He gave the Presenting gelding a brilliant ride to win at Aintree just over three weeks ago when pushing and kidding him along for much of the two-mile-five trip over the National fences.
Emmet Mullins’ charge isn’t the most straightforward but has bags of ability and O’Connor has proven a few times now that he has the key to him.
SELECTIONS
3.40 De Nordener
4.15 Tactical Move (Nap)
4.50 Allegorie De Vassy
5.25 Its On The Line (Dbl)
6.00 State Man
6.35 Ballyburn
7.05 Anotherway
7.40 Fishery Lane
