Champion trainer Paul Nicholls and owner Andy Stewart are hoping lightning will strike twice after novice chaser Saphir Du Rheu was pointed back down the hurdle route.
Hurricane Fly and Jezki clash for a 6th time in this afternoon’s Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown with the score currently reading Hurricane Fly 3 v 2 Jezki after ‘The Fly’ recorded a 20th G1 success in the Morgiana Hurdle last month at Punchestown.
Two Champion Hurdle candidates starred at the weekend with The New One winning the inaugural Betfair Price Rush Hurdle for the Twiston-Davies’ at Haydock, whilst Faugheen was flawless under Ruby Walsh at Ascot.
As the ‘Value Rater’, I am a top class horse racing form analyst and tipster and have a racing slot every Saturday morning at 10.30am on Castle Down Radio 104.7Fm alongside the broadcaster Simon Davis.
The middle day of the Punchestown Festival but it is possible that on Day 1 we witnessed not one but two potential equine superstars with Faugheen (6/1 for the 2015 Champion Hurdle) and Forgotten Rules who won the concluding Bumper in the manner of a very special horse.
The Punchestown Festival begins this afternoon and it is impossible to oppose the unbeaten Faugheen (4.20) in the first Grade 1 on the card despite the gelding dropping back in trip from his memorable success at Cheltenham in the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle over 2m 5f.
The opening day of the Aintree festival boasts four Grade 1’s on a tremendous day of jump racing in Liverpool, with the Thursday of the festival competing with Ladies Day and National Day in terms of both drama and excitement.