Friday 27 April 2012

Friday Hurricane at Punchestown


Friday's action at the Punchestown Festival goes action after the track passed a precautionary inspection.

Officials checked conditions at 0800 BST ahead of the fourth day of the Festival meeting and reported the course to be fit for racing.

The going remains heavy but the card will begin at 1655.

Hurricane Fly will be the star attraction in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle, one of three Grade One events on the card.

The 2011 Champion Hurdle hero at Cheltenham has lifted this prize at the county Kildare track in imperious fashion for the last two years.

Ruby Walsh's mount lost for the first time since November 2009 when only third to Rock On Ruby at Cheltenham.

"I'd be hoping for a lot more tomorrow than at Cheltenham," said Hurricane Fly's trainer Willie Mullins.

"He's been working well and seems in good form. Hopefully he can produce a good performance."

Mullins' stable will also unleash the committed grey Thousand Stars, who finished second in the race a year ago, and ran well to just lose out to Oscar Whisky in the Aintree Hurdle.

Zaidpour, who was eighth in the Champion Hurdle but had looked more his old self in minor races on testing ground earlier in the campaign, completes the trio.

Edward O'Grady's The Real Article appears the only possible threat to Mullins domination.

Barry Geraghty has the mount on The Real Article, who was placed to win a pair of Grade Two events at Tipperary and Down Royal in the early stages of the season proper.

Donald McCain's British raider Overturn was not declared for the race.

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