Epatante hard to beat in Mares Champion Hurdle

Punchestown, Saturday, 30 April: On the last day of the Punchestown Festival, great sport will be on offer once again.

In the Group 1 Mares Champion Hurdle (3rd race/16.50pm/125,000 Euro/4023m), Epatante (Aidan Coleman) will be looking to round off her successful season with a twelfth career win. The eight-year-old, beaten only by Honeysuckle at Cheltenham, will primarily be up against Telmesomethinggirl (Rachael Blackmore), who recently had to break away on the way in the Mares Hurdle and concede victory to Marie`s Rock (Nico de Boinville).

Another classic test will take place with the Four Year Old Hurdle (5th race/18.00 h/125,000 Euro/3218 m). A new duel is looming between Vauban (Paul Townend) and Fil Dor (Davy Russell). In the Triumph Hurdle (Group 1) at Cheltenham, the Mullins protégé won easily against Fil Dor, who easily kept fifth-placed Il Etait Temps (B. Cooper) at bay.