Strong Punchestown Raid by Henderson Champion Hurdler, Punjabi and World Hurdle runner-up, Punchestowns are likely participants at the Punchestown Festival which comes up in late April. Punjabi, winner of the main event for timber-toppers at the meeting last year, will bid to defend his crown in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle which carries a prize-fund of E200,000. Punchestowns, meanwhile, has the the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle also of E200,000, in his sights. Their trainer, Nicky Henderson told At The Races: "There is every possibility that Punjabi will have a spin on the Flat again this season but he'll definitely go to Punchestown first. "Punchestowns will go to Punchestown as long as the ground doesn't dry out too much." The late Lynn Wilson, who owned the latter, in the words of Henderson, "adored" Punchestown races so the son of Morespeed would be a very fitting winner at the Festival.
