Samcro bypasses novice option for Champion Samcro puts his lofty reputation on the line when he takes on talented and more experienced company in the Betdaq 2% Commission Punchestown Champion Hurdle on Friday. The brilliant six-year-old has swept all before him in the novice division, with his four victories including the Deloitte at Leopardstown and Ballymore at Cheltenham. He did hold an entry in the Grade One novice hurdle on the same card, but connections have opted for the brave route. Samcro was among eight declared runners along with his Gordon Elliott-trained stablemate The Game Changer, who is set make a quick reappearance after being unplaced in Tuesday’s BoyleSports Champion Chase. Min, who was fourth in that race, is one of four from the Willie Mullins stable along with Bleu Berry, Coquin Mans, Wicklow Brave and Melon, runner-up in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. Completing the field is Jessica Harrington’s Irish Champion Hurdle winner Supasundae, who drops back to two miles after being placed in both Cheltenham’s Stayers’ Hurdle and the Aintree Hurdle. Elliott and Mullins are responsible for 11 of the 12 horses declared for the Profile Systems Champion Novice Hurdle. Only Debuchet from Mags Mullins’ stable is not trained by the two leaders in the race to be champion in Ireland. Elliott’s five are Blow By Blow, Cartwright, Delta Work, Dortmund Park and Pallasator while the Mullins six comprises Burrows Saint, Duc Des Genievres, Getabird, Real Steel, Scarpeta and Whiskey Sour.
