Punchestown relishing 'real end-of-season highlight' with Champion Hurdle rematch on the cards

Punchestown chiefs are licking their lips as all the Cheltenham Festival championship race winners could be poised to rock up at the track's showpiece meeting next month with the Boodles Champion Hurdle shaping up to be a particularly tantalising race.

Jeremy Scott revealed that last week's surprise Champion Hurdle heroine Golden Ace was likely to appear at Punchestown and Nicky Henderson has floated the idea of Constitution Hill travelling to Ireland too.

State Man has finished with a flourish at the Kildare venue for the last two years, while stablemate Lossiemouth could take on the geldings again after bolting up in the Mares' Hurdle, setting up a potential race of the season.

Punchestown racing manager Richie Galway said: "I spoke to Jeremy Scott on Monday. He came here a few years ago and enjoyed the place. Obviously, there's a lot of unfinished business from the Champion Hurdle, so for her to have a rematch with State Man and Constitution Hill, and perhaps Lossiemouth, could be a real end-of-season highlight."

There is a possibility all five winners of Cheltenham's championship races could attempt to follow up at Punchestown. Barry Connell plans to run Champion Chase winner Marine Nationale, while Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin was scratched from the Grand National so could renew rivalry with Galopin Des Champs in the Punchestown Gold Cup. Ryanair winner Fact To File and Stayers' Hurdle scorer Bob Olinger are also in the mix.

Galway said: "With a bit of luck, they'll all be there. Right now, it's nice to see all the trainers have Punchestown in their thoughts, particularly for Nicky as it's been on their minds for a while to bring Constitution Hill to Punchestown and I know Michael [Buckley, owner] is keen on it as well. It's really exciting.

Inothewayurthinkin: could renew rivalry with Galopin Des Champs in the Punchestown Gold Cup Credit: Patrick McCann

"The Irish competition at Cheltenham makes it special, while the British competition at Punchestown does the same. Hospitality is almost sold out and we've seen a bounce in sales since Cheltenham with all the positive news in relation to intended runners.

"Willie [Mullins] has always been a huge supporter of the festival and it will be great to see Galopin Des Champs turn up again. Willie's team is a big part of the week and it would be brilliant if the Gold Cup rematch with Inothewayurthinkin took place."

The Albert Bartlett Triple Crown series is also expected to attract a number of overseas runners, given it has 12 qualifying races divided between England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. 

Tom Lacey landed the inaugural running last year with Tune In A Box and the prize fund has grown to €100,000, which Galway expects to attract plenty of competition.

"We introduced the Albert Bartlett series last year and we have six qualifiers in the UK, which has increased the amount of horses we had coming over dramatically," he said.

"We have one more qualifier at Wetherby but plenty have qualified, including Nicky, while Jonjo O'Neill has been a big supporter of it. A horse rated 130 doesn't get the opportunity to race for that sort of money very often on a feature day at a festival. Ronnie Bartlett had two brilliant winners [Ballyburn and Banbridge] here last year and decided to come in as a sponsor, so all credit to him."

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