Champions Spectacle In Store At Punchestown The Grade 1 Maplewood Developments Morgiana Hurdle promises to be a spectacular highlight of a superb two day meeting at Winter Festival at Punchestown this weekend. The ?100,000 race will see the clash of two Champion Hurdlers in Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace as well as Champion Chaser, Newmill. The race also sees a possible return to two miles for the popular mare Asian Maze following her success in the three mile Whitewater Stayers Hurdle at last season's Punchestown Festival.Iktitaf and Harchibald, both pretenders to the Champion Hurdling crown, are also possible contenders for the Grade 1 spectacle. Noel Meade, trainer of the exciting duo, commented ?I am very happy with both of my horses and whilst Harchibald is an intended runner in the Maplewood, I would not rule out Iktitaf although it is unlikely that both horses will clash on Sunday.' Colm Murphy, trainer of Brave Inca, who won the race on his seasonal debut last year before going on to take the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham is looking forward to Sunday and commented ?Brave Inca always runs a big race at Punchestown and The Maplewood fits perfectly into his schedule for the season. It looks like being a tough contest but my fellow loves a battle and I'm looking forward to seeing him run on Sunday.'The supporting card on Sunday at Punchestown includes the Grade 2 Volkswagen Novice Chase on Sunday in which exciting novices Glenfinn Captain, Conna Castle and Sky's The Limit all clash. The meeting kicks off on Saturday with the clash of Vic Venturi, Mossbank and Mattock Ranger in The Grade 3 Irish Field Chase with a strong support card including The Risk of Thunder Cross Country Chase over Punchestown's unique banks course.Among the other attractions at the Punchestown Winter Festival are a Shopping Village featuring 100's of original Christmas Gift ideas along with an children's entertainment area featuring a beautiful traditional Carousel.The Punchestown Winter Festival takes place on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th November, the first race is 12.15 pm on the Saturday and 12.45 pm on Sunday.The going at Punchestown is currently soft, yielding to soft in places.
