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Can Klassical Dream make it three consecutive victories in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle on day three of the Punchestown Festival?
The feature event is Race 4 run at 5.25pm with the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle over 3m. The Willie Mullins trained Klassical Dream bids for a hat-trick in this contest after winning the last two running's. Since his latest triumph last year, he has been in mixed form with an excellent second in France tackling the French equivalent in G1 company last May before a summer break. He returned when a close second beating star mare Honeysuckle (third) in the Grade 1 Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December over a shorter trip before a below par ninth and the last finisher of the Grade 1 Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Teahupoo is one of the market leaders after a strong third at the Cheltenham Festival in the aforementioned Stayers Hurdle and the six-year-old has been in consistent form this season with a success in the Grade 1 Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December over a shorter trip before bolting up by fifteen lengths at Gowran Park in the Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle. Sire Du Berlais was fourth in this event last year but has been busy this campaign. He has been improving and hitting best form recently with success at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals.
Monkfish enjoyed an excellent 2021 over fences and ran well after almost two years off when second only beaten half a length to the re-opposing Asterion Forlonge tackling Grade 2 level at Fairyhouse over 2m 4f earlier this month.
The second Grade 1 on day three is the 6.35pm, Grade 1 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase over 2m. El Fabiolo arrives in strong form with an unbeaten campaign (three from three) including an impressive success in the Grade 1 Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He faces three rivals, Dysart Dynamo who fell in the Arkle, Saint Roi who won a Grade 1 Novices Chase over Christmas at Leopardstown but third in the Arkle and finally Indiana Jones who is the outsider stepping up in class.
Elsewhere on the card, the programme begins with two competitive handicaps before the running of the 2023 La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase over 4m 2f at 4.50pm. Older horses have dominated in recent years and Space Cadet could have the right profile of this. A former winner of the Ulster National Handicap Chase at Downpatrick (2020), he was a good third this year. Vital Island is more consistent and would be interesting if taking part. He ran a strong race here on Tuesday when second over 3m 1f. Stealthy Tom is not dismissed having won a cross-country chase at this course in February backed-up with a stable who do well in this race.