Another huge race in prospect which realistically concerns three horses. Current Champion Hurdle holder Punjabi looks to retain his crown which he won here last season, Quevega wishes to state her claim as a live contender for next year's big race and Solwhit hopes to improve on his highly-impressive win in the Aintree Hurdle last time out. A race which could turn into a real battle in this heavy ground, it looks likely to be another spectacular contest to add to the races that have been witnessed at this Festival already.
Last year's winner of this event and current Champion Hurdler, Punjabi has an outstanding chance to make it three from three at this track. His performance at Cheltenham in March was sublime considering he was the stable's supposed second-string and he held off two of best hurdlers around in the shape of Celestial Halo and Binocular. He showed a most willing attitude to hold on all out under pressure and looks set to run another huge race here. He put a solid performance here last season, where he defeated two good benchmarks in Sublimity and Brave Inca. He has a brilliant turn of foot but it remains to be seen whether he will be able to quicken up out of this heavy ground. Punjabi has had a good break since his heroics and should be fresh for this race, and with Barry Geraghty in the saddle yet again, he will go close to adding to his impressive total career prize money.
Quevega looks likely to go off favourite after her superb performance in the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, where she romped to victory by a huge 14 lengths. She was well fancied that day her connections and she did not disappoint. Always up with the pace under Ruby Walsh, she loomed up going ominously well and bounded clear up the hill. After that performance, she put herself in the picture for next year's Champion Hurdle and this is another step up the ladder for this progressive mare. She does look better suited to 2m 4f but this drop in trip is unlikely to cause her too much trouble, having shown her ability to travel and quicken over this trip before. One huge plus for this five-year-old is that the ground is firmly in her favour and may not suit her rivals, something which may swing the outcome her way. Also, her trainer/jockey combination had another four winners yesterday to increase their tally to eight this week already. She looks a highly interesting runner and could win this in style before going on to bigger things next season.
Solwhit certainly has the potential to improve on his win last time out and could upset the first two mentioned. He won with authority that day, beating three-time Aintree Hurdle winner Al Eile and World Series Hurdle winner Fiveforthree in the process. He is still a young horse at the age of five and he could feature in next year's Champion Hurdle if he continues his rapid rate of progression. One thing which will not affect him too much is the ground, on which he has been a winner three times in his career. Again under the guidance of Davy Russell, he looks on course to run another massive race despite his inexperience.
Muirhead reappears after a superb run in the Champion Hurdle last time out, where finished five lengths behind Punjabi. He will have no problem with the ground and should be fresh having been lightly raced this season. If any of the top three in the market fail to give their running, he could well make the frame. Sizing Europe has been a bitter disappointment this season having shown so much promise last year. He will do well to win this but he is horse of huge talent and could run well under Denis O'Regan.
Selections: 1st - Punjabi, 2nd - Quevega, 3rd - Solwhit.
Result: 1st - Solwhit, 2/1 jf, 2nd - Punjabi, 7/2, 3rd - Quevega, 2/1 jf.
Solwhit just edged out a game Punjabi in an awesome finish to a falsely-run affair on desperate ground. All credit must go to Solwhit, who was well-backed throughout the day, for the improvement he has made to be able to sit at the top table of hurdling. He was always travelling kindly for Davy Russell, and content to sit just off the pace, he moved up two out. Punjabi took the opposite route and swept to the lead having gone round the outside of the field, and after hitting the last, he was all out to hold off the challenge of Solwhit but just failed in his bid to win three years in succession at Punchestown. Both look likely to stamp their authority on next year's Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and with Hurricane Fly fit and well, it looks likely to be a superb contest. Quevega proved to be very disappointing for the in-form Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh, especially she would have been most suited to the ground. She loomed up going smoothly two from home but could not keep pace with the first two and kept on up the straight to snatch third. The enigma that is Sizing Europe was always prominent and as always looked to be moving very well, however, he failed to find anything under pressure and could on plug on up the run-in.
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