Superb entries for Irish National Hunt Festival

The nine early-closing races at Punchestown´s €1.7 million 2004 Irish National Hunt Festival - taking place from Tuesday, April 27, to Friday, April 30 - have attracted a total of 218 entries (up 25 on last year), of which no less than 68 hail from Britain. There are than nine winners from the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals chasing further glory at Ireland´s premier National Hunt meeting.

Taking centre stage on the opening day of the Irish National Hunt Festival is the Grade 1 €150,000 BETDAQ.com CHAMPION CHASE over two miles, in which the 12 entries include Jessica Harrington´s Moscow Flyer, the 2003 Queen Mother Champion Chase victor, who fell at Cheltenham this year before going on to score a most impressive victory in the Grade 1 Melling Chase at Aintree on April 2. His main rivals look to be Kicking King, runner-up in the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival and the Paul Nicholls-trained duo of Cenkos and Le Roi Miguel.

Tuesday also sees some of the finest novice hurdlers in action in the Grade 1 €85,000 EVENING HERALD CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE which has attracted a total of 28 entries (six British-trained). Colm Murphy´s Brave Inca, victorious in the Supreme Novices´ Hurdle at Cheltenham, is the stand-out performer among the Irish-trained entries with the best of the British-trained contenders appearing to be Nicky Henderson´s promising performer Back To Ben Alder and the Steve Gollings-trained Royal Shakespeare, a game victor in the Grade 2 Top Novices´ Hurdle at Aintree.

Wednesday´s programme is headed by the Grade 1 180,000 euros PUNCHESTOWN HEINEKEN GOLD CUP, with last year´s winner First Gold heading the 13 entries (including three British-trained and one French-trained entry). The field for the 3m 1f contest could also include both Harbour Pilot and Beef Or Salmon, third and fourth respectively in last month´s Cheltenham Gold Cup. Further spice is added to the race with the addition of Jonjo O´Neill´s Keen Leader while Rule Supreme, victorious in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham, could put the form of the leading novice chasers to the test against more seasoned rivals.

Iris´s Gift will be a huge draw in the Grade 1 125,000 euros BALLYMORE PROPERTIES CHAMPION STAYERS´ HURDLE on the Thursday as the best staying hurdler in Europe could bid to complete a big-race hat-trick. Jonjo O´Neill´s seven-year-old is among 20 long-distance hurdlers (eight British-trained), who could contest this event.

The popular grey beat Baracouda in the Stayers´ Hurdle at Cheltenham´s National Hunt Festival and went on to win the Liverpool Hurdle in the first race of the Aintree Festival last week.

Iris´s Gift could face stable companion Rhinestone Cowboy, who was also a winner at Aintree beating last year´s Champion Hurdle hero Rooster Booster by three-quarters of a length in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle on Saturday.

Solerina, trained by James Bowe, and the Willie Mullins-trained Holy Orders, fourth and fifth respectively in the Stayers´ Hurdle at Cheltenham, and Aine Dubh, trained by Kevin O´Donnell, third in the Liverpool Hurdle, head the home-trained contingent.

That day´s programme also features the €85,000 Grade 1 SWORDLESTOWN CUP NOVICES´ CHASE, which has attracted 14 of the best young chasers around (three British-trained).

The Tom Taaffe-trained Kicking King heads the home challenge having found only Well Chief a length too powerful in the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival last month.

The best of the British could be Thisthatandtother, trained by Paul Nicholls, who also finished runner-up, beaten two and a half lengths, to Well Chief in the Maghull Novices´ Chase at Aintree on Saturday.

Other notables include Mister McGoldrick, trained by Sue Smith, and the Paddy Mullins-trained Emperors Guest, who were third and fifth respectively at Aintree, while Jessica Harrington´s Colca Canyon was fifth in the Arkle.

An intriguing clash could be in prospect in the €110,000 Grade 1 COLM MCEVOY AUCTIONEERS CHAMPION FOUR YEAR OLD HURDLE on the same day between Al Eile, trained by John Queally, and the Philip Hobbs-trained Made In Japan, who are both among 29 possibles (five British-trained).

The latter was driven out by Richard Johnson to beat Chief Yeoman by two lengths in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham´s National Hunt Festival with Al Eile almost 40 lengths back in 15th.

However Al Eile showed that running to be all wrong when gaining his revenge on Made In Japan by three-quarters of a length in the Unwins Wine Group Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices´ Hurdle at Aintree on Thursday. My Will, trained by Paul Nicholls, who was third at Liverpool could also line up as could the Ted Walsh-trained Top Strategy, who filled the same position in the Triumph.

There are 22 entries (10 British-trained) for Friday´s highlight, the 160,000 Grade One EMO OIL CHAMPION HURDLE, including Rooster Booster, the 2003 Champion Hurdle winner who has finished runner-up on his latest two starts in the Champion Hurdle and the Aintree Hurdle. His main challengers in this race are Hardy Eustace and Rhinestone Cowboy, who have both beaten him this year. Hardy Eustace defeated Rooster Booster in the Champion Hurdle on March 16 by five lengths while Rhinestone Cowboy defeated him in the Aintree Hurdle on April 3, proving three-quarters-of-a-length too strong.

Other contenders to be considered for the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle include Georges Girl, runner-up in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown and Fota Island, third in the same race.

Staying novice hurdlers also get their chance to shine on Friday in the Grade 1 €90,000 MENOLLY HOMES CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE over two and a half miles. In total 35 entries (10 British-trained) have been received for this contest including the Philip Hobbs-trained Grey Report, who was placed at both Cheltenham and Aintree as well as recent Aintree victor Royal Shakespeare. Royal Shakespeare is also entered in the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle, as is Brave Inca, who got the Irish challenge at Cheltenham 2004 off to a flying start when taking the Supreme Novices´ Hurdle.

Also run on the Friday is the €90,000 betfair.com NOVICE HANDICAP CHASE, which has attracted 45 entries (10 British-trained) including Tony Martin´s Xenophon as well the Frances Crowley-trained Nil Desperandum, who missed the Cheltenham Festival following a setback. Among the 10 British-trained entries is Victor Dartnall´s highly-promising young chaser Lord Sam, a winner of all three of his starts over fences another horse who missed Cheltenham.

Janet Williamson, Punchestown´s PR Manager, said today: 'We are delighted by the entries for the nine early-closing races at Punchestown with the cream of Ireland´s National Hunt talent set to face a record number of opponents from Britain.'