Rachael on Thursday at the Punchestown Festival
Bob Olinger is the one
The Ladbrokes Champion Stayers' Hurdle (Punchestown, 18:05) is another very competitive race. I thought that Bob Olinger ran very well in Cheltenham, he was only beaten just over two lengths. He's an unbelievable horse, and Henry and everyone at Knockeen have done such a good job with him. He will be fresh and well again coming into this.
Teahupoo won this race last year, bouncing back from finishing second behind Bob Olinger in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham. Honesty Policy was behind Bob Olinger in Cheltenham and he was over eight lengths behind Home By The Lee at Aintree, so he will have to step forward from that if he is going to worry the two Robcour horses.
Jade De Grugy will be stepping up in trip to three miles for the first time if she takes her chance here, and she has the ability to get involved if she stays the trip, but Bob Olinger could be the one.
Rachael on Friday at the Punchestown Festival
Lossiemouth will relish the ground
It's going to be good to see Lossiemouth again in the Boodles Champion Hurdle (Punchestown, 18:40) on Friday. She was so good in Cheltenham, in winning the Champion Hurdle. The cheekpieces seemed to help her there too.
Heavy ground didn't bring out the best in her at Leopardstown in the Irish Champion Hurdle. This ground should be much more to her liking.
It will be good to see William Munny back too. He hasn't run since he finished second behind Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham more than a year ago, and it will be hard for him to beat Lossiemouth on his first run of the season, but he is a great addition to the race.
Rachael on Saturday at the Punchestown Festival
Difficult to see anything other than a Wodhooh win
Wodhooh sets the standard in the Mares Champion Hurdle on Saturday. She has won 10 of her 11 races over hurdles, her only defeat coming in the Aintree Hurdle last season when she was beaten by Lossiemouth.
She has won her three races this season, she kept on well to beat Jade De Grugy by a length at Cheltenham, but she probably had more in hand than that. She looks like a mare who only just does enough.
Jade De Grugy could line up against her here again, and she should run her race, she stays two and a half miles well, but it's difficult to see her reversing places with Wodhooh. Golden Ace could run here too instead of in the Champion Hurdle, but Wodhooh is the one they all have to beat.