Telmesomethinggirl takes on the boys in Grade 1 clash of three Cheltenham stars

5.20 Punchestown
Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m | 4yo+ | RTE2/RTV

This is undoubtedly the strongest Grade 1 novice hurdle of the week with a trio of winners from last month's Cheltenham Festival in line to be crowned Ireland's leading staying novice.

Vanillier had looked an exciting young talent prior to a dismal effort at the Dublin Racing Festival, but that came at a time when trainer Gavin Cromwell's runners were under a cloud, and he showed his true colours when leaving his Albert Bartlett rivals for dust at 14-1 last month.

The strong six-year-old proved that he was comfortable on good to soft ground then, but the suspicion lingers that the very best of him may be seen on soft ground – an exciting thought for the coming seasons considering that 11-length triumph at the festival.

Galopin Des Champs: steps into Grade 1 company after an impressive victory in the Martin PipeCredit: Getty Images

His mark of 150 is the equal of impressive Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle winner Galopin Des Champs.

He stood out in that 0-145 like Harry Kane would playing Sunday league football, a prime example of a Graded horse in handicap company.

This will be a tougher examination as he tries three miles for the first time, but even if he fails to deliver at the end of his season, there's every chance he will develop into one of Willie Mullins' brightest prospects next term.

Solid market confidence behind Telmesomethinggirl prior to the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham proved well founded after the Henry de Bromhead-trained mare blew her rivals away in that Grade 2 over 2m1f.

This is an altogether different test for the point-to-point debut winner, who has the makings of a seriously progressive mare and is rated competitively with Vanillier and Galopin Des Champs when factoring in her mares' allowance.

There is more to this race than just the Cheltenham champions, though.

Gentlemansgame and Stattler – second and third to Gaillard Du Mesnil in Grade 1 company at the Dublin Racing Festival – have the potential to belong at this level in the long term, while Torygraph was half the price of Vanillier but failed to bring his best when only eighth at Cheltenham.

Streets Of Doyen, the third home on that occasion, also took in another Grade 1 at Aintree when fourth to Ahoy Senor despite never really travelling, while Crosshill could outrun his odds after a narrow defeat in a €50,000 handicap at Fairyhouse 25 days ago.

Vanillier out to compensate Moore after agonising Cheltenham

Gavin Cromwell enjoyed a memorable Cheltenham Festival through the exploits of Vanillier and Stayers' Hurdle hero Flooring Porter, but the leading trainer would surely love nothing more than to make Punchestown a more favourable week for stable jockey Jonathan Moore.

The Wexford rider earned the admiration of plenty for the class and unselfishness he showed in standing himself down last month with a rib injury, being on hand to greet both winners he would have ridden if fit.

Moore returned to action earlier this month, quickly getting on the scoresheet, and Cromwell is relishing the chance to saddle Vanillier in another top-level event.

Vanillier: ran out an easy winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices' HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

"It's obviously a very good race, but he's come out of Cheltenham in great form and we're really looking forward to running him," he said.

"It wasn't a shock that he won at Cheltenham, we've always liked him, but it was a bit of a surprise that he won in the manner he did – it was a nice surprise to get in that sense."

He added: "The nicer ground than he'd been running on last time didn't do him any harm, but he lacks a bit of a gear and we'd prefer if the ground was a bit softer than it's probably going to be."

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Galopin Des Champs and Stattler
Stattler will like this trip and has a good each-way chance. Galopin Des Champs was very good in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham and that form gives him a top-class chance here. He's in good order.

Peter Molony, racing manager to Kenny Alexander, owner of Telmesomethinggirl
We always liked her but it probably took her about six months to recover from a gruelling run on testing ground at Fairyhouse [when third in November 2019]. Since she came back from a break to win at Roscommon last summer she's gone from strength to strength – Henry has done a wonderful job with her. We always thought that she'd stay three miles, she's by Stowaway and Rachael said that she almost couldn't pull her up at Cheltenham – she nearly ran into the boards. If she does stay the trip, we're hopeful that she should be right there. She's closely matched on ratings with the top-rated horses when factoring in her sex allowance and it'd be great to get Grade 1 placing with her.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Crosshill
It was a great run from him last time at Fairyhouse when he just got chinned on the line. He deserves a crack at a good race like this and the good ground should play to his strengths. The plan is for him to go over fences next season.

Gentlemansgame: set to make a fine chaser for Mouse Morris and Robcour in timeCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Mouse Morris, trainer of Gentlemansgame
I'm hoping for a better showing than last time at Fairyhouse. Most horses would probably prefer the ground a bit softer, but it is what it is and we'll take our chance. He's learning all the time and, even to look at him, he's next year's horse.

Denise Foster, trainer of Torygraph
He's an out-and-out three-miler. He stepped up nicely during the winter and progressed with every race, but he just never seemed happy at Cheltenham for whatever reason. We're hoping he will be back to himself here, although the ground is something of an unknown for him.

John McConnell, trainer of Streets Of Doyen
It's hard to feel disappointed when you're fourth in a Grade 1, but he made life hard for himself last time at Aintree and we've put the blinkers on him to hopefully help him travel through his race a bit better. This is a hot race with plenty of depth to it, but hopefully he can run well and you never know what might happen. He'll go chasing next season and we'll keep him on the go during the summer.

Read more on day two at Punchestown:

5.55 Punchestown: redemption for Al Boum or can Clan do it for the visitors in Gold Cup cracker?

6.30 Punchestown: Mullins expecting another 'very close call' between Sir Gerhard and Kilcruit

7.00 Punchestown: can Mullins' Livelovelaugh reproduce Aintree heroics in €80,000 handicap chase?

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