April 28 / 17.25 Punchestown

17.25

Yielding

Paddy Power Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £156637.17
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • 6 runners
RTE2
View Course
Paddy Power Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

4/9 (Won)

  • Win: £1.20
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1-1112 CD

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 166

Form & Verdict
Last season's County Hurdle winner; completed a Grade 1 four-timer when making all to dethrone Honeysuckle in the Irish Champion; comfortably beat stablemate Vauban in the Matheson at Christmas and upheld that form readily when chasing home Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle; can regain the winning thread now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

2nd May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

18:40 Punchestown

State Man

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

made all, jumped well, 3 lengths ahead halfway, reduced lead after 4 out, pushed along and went clear again approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in

5/4

1st

3

2nd May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

18:40 Punchestown

State Man

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

made all, jumped well, 3 lengths ahead halfway, reduced lead after 4 out, pushed along and went clear again approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in

5/4

4

11th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

State Man

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Beaten twice by Brighterdaysahead this season, flopping badly on the second occasion, and was gifted a third Irish Champion Hurdle last month as main rival Lossiemouth fell; won a substandard edition of this race last year and was no match for highly impressive Constitution Hill 12 months earlier; dependable in the main and has a voluminous Grade 1 tally but a second Champion Hurdle win looks far from certain; wears first-time headgear.

10/1

6/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 11-234 CD

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 160

Form & Verdict
Completed a Grade 1 hat-trick in juvenile hurdles last February-April, beating the same rival Fil Dor at Leopardstown Cheltenham, and this venue; has confirmed a high standard of form in the senior ranks, second behind stablemate State Man in the Matheson, and third in the Irish Champion Hurdle; lost third place to Zanahiyr in the Champion Hurdle.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(6)

15th Sep 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

16:45 Curragh

Vauban

9st 11lb

J: William Buick

T: W P Mullins

held up in rear, headway 2f out, ran on and went second inside final 110yds, no match for winner

11/2

1st

7

(4)

23rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Vauban

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: W P Mullins

Attentions concentrated on the Flat since his runaway handicap win at Royal Ascot last June; has not quite lived up to that dazzling display, this term running respectably in the Yorkshire Cup here and the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, seemingly stretched by 2m4f (good to firm) in the latter, before a lesser show at the Curragh five weeks ago; big player if back at his peak.

3/1

3rd

7

(3)

20th Jul 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

16:15 Curragh

Vauban

9st 11lb

J: Colin Keane

T: W P Mullins

midfield, headway and chased clear leader 3f out, 8 lengths down when lost second inside final furlong, kept on

5/2

Form: 7-4222 C

Last run: 6 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Third behind State Man in last season's County Hurdle; had his first two races this season over fences; back over hurdles on his last two starts; decent performance when chasing home Rubaud in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, but he is the lowest-rated here to the tune of 12lb; first-time cheekpieces
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

7

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Colonel Mustard

11st 7lb

J: John Shinnick

T: Mrs Lorna Fowler

Two races this autumn (one a 2m4f Grade 2 from The Yellow Clay) were his first wins for ages and he wasn't disgraced on latest outing; third in the 2022 County and fifth in this race last year in his only two handicaps at this meeting, but he's higher in the weights today and is now an 11yo, so can't be the percentage call.

33/1

4th

3

8th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 5f 180y

14:50 Navan

Colonel Mustard

11st 8lb

J: John Shinnick

T: Mrs Lorna Fowler

Win record has not reflected his ability for much of his career; only one success before this season's victories in a conditions race at Sligo and 2m4f Grade 2 at this venue; needs to bounce back now having been tailed off in the Long Walk at Ascot.

9/2

1st

1

24th Oct 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 112y

14:35 Sligo

Colonel Mustard

11st 12lb

J: John Shinnick

T: Mrs Lorna Fowler

Just one win over hurdles but has been placed plenty of times including in graded races; was fifth in the Coral Cup before a fourth in a Fairyhouse Grade 2; was runner-up in this race last year after a similar absence so has to be respected as the top-rated in the field.

2/1

Form: -23242 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 158

Form & Verdict
Prolific Grade 1 winner, best known for winning the Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown four times; sequence ended when third behind State Man and Vauban in December; highly creditable fourth off top weight in the County Hurdle; fared as well as could have been expected behind Constitution Hill at Aintree, with Zanahiyr third.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

30th Apr 2024

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

18:00 Punchestown

Sharjah

11st 10lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

High-class hurdler had been mixing it at the top level over fences this season at shorter trips before third chase win when dropped in grade at Ayr 10 days ago, patiently ridden and seeing the 3m out well when giving away lumps of weight in novice handicap; drying ground should help his cause and not one to rule out.

10/1

6th

6

30th Apr 2024

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

18:00 Punchestown

Sharjah

11st 10lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

High-class hurdler had been mixing it at the top level over fences this season at shorter trips before third chase win when dropped in grade at Ayr 10 days ago, patiently ridden and seeing the 3m out well when giving away lumps of weight in novice handicap; drying ground should help his cause and not one to rule out.

10/1

1st

1

20th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:50 Ayr

Sharjah

12st 0lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Top-class hurdler who has shown a good level of form over fences, banging his head against a wall in Grade 1s in his last four appearances; finished fourth in last season's County Hurdle in his last handicap assignment and that was off an 8lb higher mark; may run well, though stamina could be an issue on this belated first run beyond 2m4f.

10/1

Form: -7P533 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 158

Form & Verdict
Has been competing almost exclusively since a Grade 2 win at Down Royal in October 2021; below form on his first three starts this season; much more like it when third behind Constitution Hill at Cheltenham and Aintree; no reason why he should turn the tables on State Man.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(3)

8th Apr 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 5f 180y

17:25 Gowran Park

Zanahiyr

10st 1lb

J: Sam Coen

T: Gordon Elliott

Fine dual-purpose sort has 10 wins under all codes including a Bellewstown Flat handicap last August beating a below par Light Up The Dark; won the American Grand National when last seen; handles all ground; a big player.

5/2

7

(7)

26th Aug 2025

Yielding

2m 1f 110y

19:55 Bellewstown

Zanahiyr

11st 9lb

J: Mr J H Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Useful dual-purpose sort ran a solid fourth on the Flat at Killarney in May; won over fences at Galway last time after being unplaced in the Plate earlier in the week; should run well.

2/1

3

3rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 111y

14:55 Galway

Zanahiyr

11st 3lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

High-class hurdler; has won only one of his nine starts over fences, a Thurles beginners' event the season before last; fell at the fourth in the Ultima at Cheltenham on his final start last season; had a Flat run in May; third to Pinkerton in last year's Galway Plate; beaten almost 20l in seventh behind stablemate Western Fold in Wednesday's 2025 edition.

11/8

Form: -11542 CD

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
Third behind Vauban in the 2022 Triumph Hurdle; won at Cheltenham and Down Royal last autumn; fourth of five behind State Man in the Irish Champion Hurdle; a shade unlucky not to win the County Hurdle with Sharjah back in fourth; well held by the Mullins-trained principals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

15:20 Cheltenham

Pied Piper

10st 7lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Gained all three chase wins in small-field novice events last April-June; not beaten far when ninth of 28 in valuable Leopardstown handicap won by Favori De Champdou over Christmas (3m, yielding; wore usual cheekpieces) and seemed to be running well when falling at third-last fence in the Thyestes at Gowran (3m1f, heavy; blinkered) in January; has stamina to prove on cross-country debut but not ruled out; cheekpieces back on today.

25/1

9

22nd Jan 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 0y

15:30 Gowran Park

Pied Piper

11st 4lb

J: Kevin Healy

T: Gordon Elliott

Smart hurdler in his early days; all three chase wins recorded in small-field events between April and June last year; failed to prosper in Grade 3 events before livelier displays at Cheltenham and when fifth behind Answer To Kayf in the Troytown; no impact in the Grade 1 Drinmore at Fairhouse; no threat from the last when ninth in the Paddy Power.

33/1

1

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

16:05 Cheltenham

Pied Piper

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Hit the ground running over fences with three wins in small fields (2m4f-2m7f) but now on a recovery mission after three blips, admittedly at Grade 3 level; would be a strong contender on these terms if back on song.

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €2.10
Straight Forecast €2.10
Trifecta €13.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

State Man

RP Ratings (IRE):

State Man

TOPSPEED:

State Man

POSTDATA:

State Man

The Irish Sun:

State Man