Cesarewitch winner Gentleman over hurdles at Punchestown Cape Gentleman makes his eagerly awaited debut over hurdles at Punchestown on Tuesday when facing 11 rivals in the Gift A Donation This Year Maiden Hurdle. The French import made a pleasing start for current connections when runner-up to Mt Leinster at the Listowel Festival before going one better in style the following month in the Paddy Power Irish Cesarewitch. The four-year-old gelding made light of a Flat rating of 85 in that valuable Curragh two-mile handicap, and trainer Emmet Mullins is understandably looking forward to starting him over hurdles. “He’s schooled well so it’s exciting to get him out and get going,” said the Closutton handler. “Heavy ground might be a bit of a worry for a Champs Elysees but the experience will stand to him and hopefully we can get his novice season up and running. “I know it was soft at the Curragh but heavy at Punchestown in December is a bit different. “Hopefully he can turn into a nice spring horse and we’ll get the experience into him. “He won over two miles on the Flat so he should get a good trip over hurdles. Two and a half miles should suit him.” The main threats in this two and a half miles event appear to be the Gordon Elliott-trained Homme D’un Soir and Petibonome, who represents the Henry de Bromhead yard.
