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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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Preview punchestown 7th May
Dermot Weld's high-class filly Unaccompanied returns to jump racing with a big chance of landing a major prize on the final day of the Punchestown Festival.
Second to Zarkandar in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, the four-year-old was last seen running on the level at the Curragh, where she won a Listed race, and she is clearly in great nick going into the AES Champion 4YO Hurdle.
She will need to be, as she again locks horns with Nicky Henderson's Triumph Hurdle third Grandouet, who was still going well when brought down at Aintree last time. Kumbeshwar finished second in that race and reopposes.
Henderson sends Veiled for the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association Fillies Scheme EBF Mares Hurdle and she must have a decent chance having won her last two races, though Alasi is better off at the weights from their recent clash.
The home defence is strong and includes Golden Sunbird and Shop DJ, who filled the places in a Grade Two event at Fairyhouse last time, as well as the likes of Morning Supreme and the prolific Aibrean.
Morning Supreme's trainer Willie Mullins saddles six for the www.thetote.com Handicap Hurdle, with Ruby Walsh on Doctor Deejay, while British hopes are represented by the Philip Hobbs-trained Roalco De Farges.
Mullins also has four in the Tulfarris Hotel And Golf Resort Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase, with Walsh on Shakervilz, while Henderson saddles Shakalakaboomboom.
The eyecatcher, though, is Gordon Elliott's Cheltenham Festival third Beautiful Sound, who comes here having just failed to squeeze into the Irish Grand National, for which he was ante-post favourite.
Sizing Australia won the cross-country chase at the Cheltenham meeting and Henry de Bromhead's nine-year-old returns to action in the opening Irish Field Chase (2.30), where the opposition includes Enda Bolger's Tuesday faller Zest For Life.
Tony Martin will be looking for a return to his best form from Navan flop Montan in the Madra Irish Dog Food Novice Chase.