May 01 / 16.15 Punchestown

16.15

Good To Yielding

Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £64130.43
  • 2m 7f 192y
  • 7 runners
RTE2
View Course
Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

2/1 (Won)

Form: -51131 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Outstayed behind Stellar Story at Cheltenham in the Albert Bartlett but seems much more at home on a speed track when decisively landing the Grade 1 Sefton at Aintree; similar track here will play to his strengths and good ground will not be an issue; leading player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Dancing City

10st 11lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: W P Mullins

Three-time Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler, including twice last spring, and he began his chasing career in promising style with two wins this winter; there have since been significant reverses when well beaten at Cheltenham and falling at Aintree, both in Grade 1s over about 3m, but he'd previously suggested a strength in stamina which gives this test some appeal.

6/1

4

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Dancing City

10st 11lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: W P Mullins

Three-time Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler, including twice last spring, and he began his chasing career in promising style with two wins this winter; there have since been significant reverses when well beaten at Cheltenham and falling at Aintree, both in Grade 1s over about 3m, but he'd previously suggested a strength in stamina which gives this test some appeal.

6/1

2

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Dancing City

11st 7lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Has finished behind Stellar Story at the last two Cheltenham Festivals but was hindered by being pestered up front in latest; otherwise a smart stayer who retains the potential to land a top prize over fences, having been a three-time Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler, including on this card 12 months ago; remains of major interest.

3/1

Form: 11111P

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten over hurdles prior to his run at Cheltenham where he reportedly ran too freely; better ground here will be okay for him and better can be expected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 104y

15:45 Punchestown

High Class Hero

11st 12lb

J: Sean Cleary-Farrell

T: W P Mullins

Sole chase win came in 2m7f beginners' here last season but some fine runs in competitive handicaps, fourth in last season's bet365 Gold Cup and this term when second in 2m6f handicap here and most notably chasing clear leader when blundering last in 4m2f Aintree National and weakening late on when fifth of 16 finishers (good-to-soft); tendency to jump left is a negative but could go well if putting it all together here (in-form rider's claim a positive).

10/1

5th

18

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

High Class Hero

10st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: W P Mullins

One positive is his staying-on third over an extended 3m4f in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (good; 5lb higher today) last April; another is that he's trained by Willie Mullins, who described him in November as likely to be "an ideal type for the Grand National"; after a solid reappearance, he's been pulled up in good handicaps on his last two outings but both were in the mud and he got loose before the latest, which presumably didn't help.

50/1

1

8th Mar 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 174y

16:02 Naas

High Class Hero

11st 12lb

J: Anna McGuinness

T: W P Mullins

Four-time hurdles winner; won Punchestown beginners' chase last February; beaten at short odds in a Thurles Grade 3 next time; better effort upped to 3m4f at Sandown when third (good); positive seasonal return at Punchestown when a 4.5l runner-up (2m6f, soft to heavy); weakened before three out and pulled up in Thyestes last time (3m1f, heavy); must shoulder top weight here again.

10/1

Form: -F1421 D

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Won his maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse and stayed on strongly to win the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham; fell short at graded level between those wins but this trip could well bring out the best in him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

28th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 90y

16:08 Navan

Better Days Ahead

11st 8lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

Won the 2024 Martin Pipe, then third to Dancing City in 3m Grade 1 at Punchestown; won two small-field Grade 2 chases at this venue last season and finished third in the Brown Advisory; sixth in the Irish Grand National; returned with a satisfactory second behind a shorter-priced stablemate in the Boyne Hurdle here; capable sort is again the stable's number two.

7/2

2nd

5

8th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 5f 180y

14:50 Navan

Better Days Ahead

11st 3lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Won the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham two seasons ago, then third to Dancing City in 3m Grade 1 at Punchestown; won two small-field Grade 2 chases at this venue last season and finished third in the Brown Advisory; sixth in the Irish Grand National, running off a mark of 154; hurdles rating of 145 is the lowest of this sextet.

9/2

6th

1

21st Apr 2025

Soft To Heavy

3m 5f 37y

17:00 Fairyhouse

Better Days Ahead

11st 12lb

J: Mr R James

T: Gordon Elliott

Won the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham last year, then third to Dancing City in 3m Grade 1 at Punchestown; 2-4 over fences, including Grade 2 at Navan over 3m on soft to heavy, when jumped notably well; on better ground, failed to confirm form with Stellar Story when third in the Brown Advisory; big burden for a novice, rider's 7lb claim a major asset.

11/1

Form: -13241 D

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Looked reasonable exposed before stepping up to 3m on heavy ground with some aplomb when getting up close home to win the Albert Bartlett; looks very much an out-and-out stayer and may not be as well suited by this test, but should go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

19

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Stellar Story

10st 11lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Gordon Elliott

Second to Lecky Watson in the 3m Grade 1 novice at Cheltenham last March; while comfortably dismissed in the closing stages of his three starts this winter, the first two of those were Grade 1 events and giving 8lb to Grangeclare West and Gerri Colombe at Fairyhouse (blinkers replaced cheekpieces) on latest outing makes that result look a whole lot better; above all, perhaps, while unraced beyond 3m2f, he has strongly suggested on plenty of occasions that he has serious stamina reserves; each-way appeal.

28/1

3rd

2

21st Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 2f 0y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Stellar Story

11st 8lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Won Grade 2 novice chase at Punchestown (3m, soft) last season and 4l second to Lecky Watson in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham; made little impression in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on return and down the field in the Savills; a winner of the 2024 Albert Bartlett on heavy, he should relish the ground but race conditions don't favour him; tongue tie and blinkers go on for the first time.

10/1

Form: 5-1235 D

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Decent staying novice this season, winning at Thurles and stepping up in graded company since; only a half-length behind Slade Steel in a Navan Grade 2 and a respectable eight lengths fifth in the Albert Bartlett; more needed here but can get into the shake-up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Lecky Watson

11st 2lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

Unraced beyond 3m2f; came into his own as a novice last term, notably in the 3m Grade 1 at Cheltenham Festival which he won by 4l from Stellar Story; no impact at the top level in Ireland this season and he clambered over the final fence on his way to a heavy defeat behind several of today's rivals in a Grade 3 last time, so current prospects don't look so bright.

33/1

8th

1

21st Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 2f 0y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Lecky Watson

11st 12lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

Leading novice chaser last season, unbeaten in three completed starts; beat Stellar Story by 4l in the Brown Advisory but fell at the fifth at the Punchestown festival; never sighted in the John Durkan on return and soundly beaten in the Savills (ahead of Stellar Story but behind Grangeclare West); pulled up in the Irish Gold Cup last time; top-weight looks up against it.

14/1

10

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 100y

15:30 Leopardstown

Lecky Watson

11st 10lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

A leading novice chaser last season when unbeaten in three completed starts; took advantage of Ballyburn's failure to beat Stellar Story in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham; fell at the fifth in a 3m1f Grade 1 event won by Champ Kiely at the Punchestown festival; never involved in the John Durkan on reappearance; soundly beaten in the Savills.

33/1

Form: 1

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner in November and workmanlike winner of a point-to-point bumper at Cork a month ago; connections are no strangers to throwing unexposed horses in at the deep end with some success, but this would probably surpass the best of those achievements.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 201y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Backmersackme

11st 5lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Emmet Mullins

Made up a lot of ground when second in handicap at Cheltenham (3m1f, good) in October; disappointingly no show in a top 3m handicap at Leopardstown at Christmas but he took another valuable prize there (soft) five weeks ago; has a revised mark and that breakthrough win was over an extended 2m5f but the Cheltenham display augurs well, as do his connections.

4/1

1st

20

1st Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 107y

14:45 Leopardstown

Backmersackme

10st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Emmet Mullins

Maiden over hurdles and fences but a fine chase run to be second at Cheltenham two starts back; never involved in the Paddy Power Chase last time, but can do better; 1lb out of the handicap.

12/1

17

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Cheltenham

Backmersackme

10st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Emmet Mullins

Not unrealistically treated on the best of his hurdle form but yet to get anything going over fences (0-4) and never threatened to land any sort of blow from off the pace on his handicap chase debut at Listowel (3m; 10-1); however, that was after a lengthy break and his ultra-canny connections have secured the services of Sean Bowen; dangerous to dismiss.

9/1

Form: 133-1P C

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner; jumped persistently left when landing a maiden hurdle here in February; pulled up in a Grade 1 mares hurdle at Fairyhouse over Easter; can be ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

22nd Apr 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 0y

14:50 Fairyhouse

Cuta Des As

10st 0lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

towards rear, mistake and unseated 6th

12/1

Non-runners

An Tobar

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast €17.57
Tricast €59.93

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Better Days Ahead

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Dancing City

TOPSPEED:

High Class Hero

The Irish Sun:

Better Days Ahead

POSTDATA:

Dancing City