Willie Mullins may not have Annie Power to call upon in the feature BETDAQ Champion Hurdle (5.30) but he has a strong hand in the shape of last year’s winner Vroum Vroum Mag and also runs Arctic Fire, Diakali, Wicklow Brave and Ivan Grozny.
The talented but quirky Labaik planted himself at the start of the Grade 1 novice hurdle at Punchestown on Tuesday before eventually jumping off about 10 seconds after the others. He has given his trainer Gordon Elliott some sleepless nights, no doubt, but he possesses a massive engine and deserves respect if they can get him to jump off. Elliott also runs Tombstone.
The market leader is Irish Champion Hurdle winner Petit Mouchoir, who used to be trained by Willie Mullins, but after the Gigginstown split at the beginning of the season, he was sent to Henry de Bromhead.
Brilliant Aintree winner Finian’s Oscar represents Robbie Power, Colin Tizzard and Alan and Ann Potts in the Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle (6.05). The Gordon Elliott-trained Death Duty will be bidding to rebuild his reputation after bombing out at Cheltenham while Willie Mullins gives the green light to Let’s Dance, Bacardys, Bleu Berry and Kemboy. Racing gets underway at 3.40 with the KFM hunters chase and Denis Cullen will be hoping his 14-year-old Shin A Vee can win the race for a fourth time.
The ground at Punchestown is good to yielding and heading into the second last day of the season Gordon Elliott has a lead of €126,830 over Willie Mullins in the race to be crowned champion trainer.
