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Decline and fall at Punchestown as King fails to shine and Europe fails to show

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Absence of De Bromhead's horse leaves ACC Bank Champion Hurdle wide open. Johnny Ward explains all

Why did it not seem so obvious?

A short-head adrift of Kauto Star in the Gold Cup after having had to make the running; an easy winner of the race 12 months ago; taking on a generally unproven bunch; representing Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh - and Neptune Collonges was 13-8 earlier in the day?

I called it dramatically wrong. Even though the grey was unable to get an uncontested lead, it made no difference. It is truly astonishing that the Ditcheat handler seemingly has the three best staying chasers on the two islands, unless War Of Attrition should rediscover his old ability.

One can only give the horse the credit he merits. He would be a Grand National winner for sure if he were a shade lower in the weights, and gave a thoroughly uncomplicated performance, with the exception of a couple of sketchy - but in no way harmful - jumps.

Basically, this horse stays all day and is very genuine. I envisaged that the likes of Mister Top Notch or Mossbank might do him for pace from the turn-in, but they were too tired to do so. That reflects very well on Neptune Collonges, who had to do much of the donkey work. Like Denman, he would stay six miles.

Beef Or Salmon ran an honest type of race on his final stand. Increasingly, as he got older, he lost his pace, but it made the hairs stand on the back of my neck to see him running on so earnestly up the straight - even though he had five horses in front of him and all his best form behind him. Beef has been responsible for so many memorable races, and it is genuinely sad to accept that we will never see him jumping in his own unusual way again.

However, undoubtedly the most regrettable aspect of the race was the meek capitulation of Kicking King. Barry Geraghty hung his head low after the fifth-last, as the horse - who had been travelling noticeably well - basically stopped to nothing and had to be pulled up. It is genuinely surprising how connections of this horse felt that he would be capable of running such a big race, based on how it worked out. The Gowran race in which he split Nickname and Newmill can basically be wiped off the record, considering that the King is clearly finished and Newmill seems to be getting worse with every run. These were two fine horses and it is sad to witness their demise - particularly that of Kicking King, who won a Gold Cup in a hack as a seven-year-old and seemed to have everything in front of him.

At this stage, there are similar concerns about Sizing Europe, who has been ruled out of Friday's ACC Bank Champion Hurdle on the grounds that he basically "isn't right" according to Henry De Bromhead. For a horse of his relative inexperience, his AIG romp was one of the most taking successes of any hurdler in living memory; it would be a great shame if it proved an isolated piece of brilliance.

For a race of its quality and prize money, the probable field of six is doing it a disservice. As it is, Punjabi, Sublimity or Harchibald should win, and I have marginal preference for John Carr's charge. I think he's a better horse than Punjabi and it is hard to see such a small field suiting Harchi.

This is not a race one could be too confident about as a backer, and anyone should bear that in mind if considering laying the apparent rags in Kalderon and Salford City, who are not without a chance.