'I hope he can behave himself, he has the ability' - Townend on Klassical Dream

Thursday: 5.25 Punchestown
Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m7½f | 4yo+ | RTE2/RTV

Paul Townend has admitted Klassical Dream is not straightforward, but hopes his raw ability will overcome his quirks to become the first back-to-back winner of the race since the mighty Quevega.

Ireland's champion jockey was disappointed with Klassical Dream's finishing effort in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham when fading into fifth behind Flooring Porter but feels Punchestown plays more to his strengths.

Townend said: "He's obviously a very good horse, albeit not the most straightforward horse in the world. He travelled really well at Cheltenham but didn’t find a lot going up the hill. I think Punchestown suits him a lot better."

Speaking in his Ladbrokes blog, he added: "He won this race very impressively last year. I think the race will suit him as well as the track. Paisley Park finished in front of him at Cheltenham but he has to travel to Ireland now and he's a ten-year-old. Sire Du Berlais was a good winner at Aintree.

"However, on ratings my horse has the ability to win, if you can forgive him for disappointing at Gowran and not finding much at Cheltenham. He deserves to be favourite and hopefully he can behave himself. If everything goes right, he's the horse they have to beat."

Paul Townend: 'He's the horse they have to beat'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Patrick Mullins has a 100 per cent record on Klassical Dream as the pair teamed up to win this race impressively 12 months ago and, although he won't be on board this time, the record-breaking champion amateur said he would be disappointed if the eight-year-old did not repeat the feat.

Mullins said: "He got a good start at Leopardstown over Christmas but at Cheltenham Klassical Dream started backing up and Paul ended up jumping off last and he was ten lengths behind Flooring Porter straight away.

"I was a little disappointed with how weakly he finished. He travelled up there very well but I don't think that was him at his best and I'd be disappointed if he couldn't win at Punchestown."

Emma Lavelle: 'I think Punchestown should suit Paisley Park'

Paisley Park is on tour and ventures outside England for the first time in his career with Emma Lavelle expecting Punchestown to play to his strengths.

The tenacious ten-year-old has come alive of late, following up a victory in the Cleeve that had to be seen to be believed with a fine third in the Stayers' Hurdle back at Cheltenham last month. Indeed he would have been second in another stride as a nose was all that separated him and Thyme Hill at the line.

Neither of them could get to the front-running Flooring Porter under a canny Danny Mullins ride, but it was proof that Paisley Park is still more than capable of winning another Grade 1. He already has three on his CV.

Speaking about his chance of claiming that fourth top level success, Lavelle said: "I think Punchestown, which is a big, galloping track, should suit him.

"He seems in really good order and looks great. It's something we haven't tried before but he's certainly in good order and we're looking forward to running him at Punchestown."

On his effort in the Stayers' Hurdle, she added: "It was a brilliant ride on Flooring Porter, when he [Mullins] slowed the field down the hill. It stopped Paisley Park's momentum and it took him a long time to get going again. It was just one of those things and he produced his usual, genuine, staying finish."

It is a very big day for Paisley Park's popular owner Andrew Gemmell.

An avid West Ham fan, he will be looking forward the Hammers playing in their first European semi-final for 46 years later in the night. They take on Eintracht Frankfurt in the last four of the Europa League as they bid to add silverware to a season full of promise.

Gordon Elliott: 'Sire Du Berlais is a very good horse on his day'

Sire Du Berlais caught us all on the hop at Aintree. He was better than he'd been before despite being ten and bringing form figures of P40 into the Liverpool Hurdle at the Grand National meeting.

Flooring Porter did his thing. He bounced out in front and jumped accurately throughout. Everything appeared to be in trouble behind him with three to jump, including Champ and Thyme Hill, but Sire Du Berlais emerged from the pack to throw down a challenge after the last. He outstayed the Stayers' Hurdle winner. He beat him fair and square, there was no fluke about it.

Gordon Elliott: 'I'm very happy with him'Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

That was only 19 days ago but Elliott reports the dual winner of the Pertemps Final and 2021 Stayers' Hurdle runner-up to be in top shape ahead of his final start of the season.

Elliott said: "Sire Du Berlais is a very good horse on his day and he impressed me at Aintree. He's won twice at Cheltenham before and the ground was just too tacky for him in the Pertemps Final this year. He didn't really handle it.

"It was livelier at Aintree and that suited him. I thought that was a really good performance as Flooring Porter seemed to run his race.

"It won't be easy against Klassical Dream and Paisley Park, but if he shows up in the same sort of form as he did at Aintree you would like to think he has a decent chance. He seems to have come out of Aintree in great order and I'm very happy with him."

What they say

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Ashdale Bob
He ran a cracker in the Coral Cup and we're looking forward to seeing how he gets on here. He's always been a horse we have thought a lot of.

Mouse Morris, trainer of Gentlemansgame
He's a good horse but is he good enough? We'll find out here. He's a horse I've always liked and this looks quite an open race. He's goes there in very good form.

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Vanillier
His work has been good and Keith [Donoghue] was happy when schooling him the other day. He didn't really jump a fence in the National Hunt Chase and that's why he's coming back over hurdles now. I know he was well beaten, but he did keep going all the way to the line. We're looking forward to seeing how he gets on.

Daryl Jacob, rider of Concertista
I'm really looking forward to riding her again. I hope she's going to be happier back over hurdles. I know she won on her first two starts over fences this season, but it just didn't happen for her in the Mares' Chase at Cheltenham when we hoped she'd run very well. I possibly wouldn't have been sure about three miles for her in the past, but she won over just shy of two miles and seven furlongs at Limerick this season.

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