Punchestown Stayers Hurdle with last year`s winner

unchestown, Thursday, April 28: On the third day of the Punchestown Festival, the Stayers Hurdle (4th race/6.25pm/275,000 euros/4730m) is in focus today.

Trained by Willie Mullins, Klassical Dream (Paul Townend) already made a splash last year. He won the Group 1 fixture by nine lengths, then paused until his next score in the Christmas Hurdle (Group 1) at Leopardstown. Currently running in the Cheltenham Stayers Hurdle (Group 1), the Dream Well son came in fifth behind Paisley Park (Aidan Coleman). Emma Lavelle`s charge won the prep in the Cleeve Hurdle (Group 2) before that and the ten-year-old came in third in the Long Walk Hurdle (Group 1). Sire du Berlais (Mark Walsh) enters as the current winner of the Liverpool Hurdle (Group 1). The Meade charge came up empty in a handicap at Cheltenham. Thedevilscoachman (Sean Flanagan) has only run in Ireland so far. His most recent triumph in the Boyne Hurdle (Group 2) narrowly over Ashadale Bob (Robbie Power) speaks for him. Concertista (Daryl Jacob) ran in only one Group 2 Mares Chase this year and did decently well to finish fifth. Gentlemansgame (Rachael Blackmore) and Vanillier (Keith Donoghue) are in-form contenders with outside chances.