Barry Geraghty’s William Hill Blog: Favourites can make a Statement on Friday

Champion Hurdle

With Galopin Des Champs getting turned over on Wednesday and Energumene just scraping in the day before it just goes to show how vulnerable these hotpots can be at the end of the season.

We’ve another one in this race (5:25pm) in the form of STATE MAN. He was ridden patiently in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, which was unusual for him, but I guess they thought there’s no point being a pacemaker for Constitution Hill. He didn’t have a tough race for that reason, so I would imagine it wouldn’t have left a massive mark on him. He was a good winner at Punchestown last year having won the County Hurdle before that, and I imagine he will be very hard to beat.

Of the opposition, Zanahiyr ran nicely in Cheltenham, but was then well beaten in Aintree, while Sharjah ran well in Aintree but that’s only 15 days ago.

For me, the horse who’s on the upgrade is Pied Piper, who went down by the narrowest of margins in the County Hurdle and I think there’s more potential for progression from him. He could be the one to chase State Man home.

Champion Novice Hurdle

IMPAIRE ET PASSE is another favourite that will be hard to beat in the Champion Novice Hurdle (6:00pm). He’s a gorgeous looking horse and was very impressive when winning the Ballymore last time. He seems a relaxed horse as well, so you’d like to think the atmosphere at Cheltenham wouldn’t have weighed so heavily on him as it might have on others. It was a high-class performance in Cheltenham, and it will take a good performance to beat him here.

The horse I still see potential in is High Definition. He was only beaten 10 lengths behind Marine National in the Supreme. His jumping was adequate, but I think the step up in trip is going to give him a little bit more time to find his feet over his hurdles and he won’t be under so much pressure. His maiden form has worked out really well and I think he could still be on the upgrade.

Champ Kiely was a good third in the Ballymore and brings solid form into this too.

Mares Chase

There’s no reason to suggest that Allegorie De Vassy should reverse Cheltenham Mares’ Chase form with IMPERVIOUS. Allegorie De Vassy has been beaten by Instit at Fairyhouse since, and you’d have to be a little bit disappointed with how she’s finished out her last two races.

When you go back through Riviere D’etel’s runs from last season, she has some excellent form to her name – she was second to Blue Lord and Ferny Hollow. She was running well when she fell three out in the Mares’ Chase and wasn’t done with at the time, so she could be an interesting one at bigger prices, but it’s tough to see past Impervious.

Other races at Punchestown

In the Grade A Novice Handicap Chase (4:15pm) keep an eye on LIFE IN THE PARK. He was highly thought of when he won his novice chase in Listowel back in the autumn. Since then he disappointed in Cheltenham in October, but caught the eye recently when third behind the Thedevilscoachman in Limerick on soft ground. He will enjoy the better ground here and he could be the right side of the handicapper in a competitive race.

One I like the look of is MONBEG PARK in the 2m Novice Hurdle (7:10pm). He brings good recent form into this when crossing the line first but being demoted in Fairyhouse last time. That possibly sets the standard here.

Arctic Bresil was very good in his maiden back in December in Cork. He disappointed next time when pulled up on soft ground in the Tolworth at Sandown, but comes here on the back of a break and had shaped with a lot of potential before that.