Punchestown Festival 2013 - Champion Four Year Old Hurdle

5.00 Punchestown

AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (4YO only)

Winner €49,600

Advice: 4 pts win Diakali (5/6 Hills)

Blood Cotil: Had looked as if he was going to lead the Mullins’ juvenile charge when bolting up on Irish debut at Fairyhouse and then beating Stocktons Wing in grade 2; No match for Our Conor and well behind Diakali in Grade 1 at Leopardstown and hard to see him reversing that form now, although he ran as well as he could off top weight in Fred Winter.

Diakali: Deeply impressive when running out easy winner of heavy-ground contests at Gowran and Punchestown by combined 40 lengths; Wasn’t able to get away from Our Conor in same fashion when poor jumping hindered him and beaten even further in Triumph, but that still the best form clearly here and plenty to like about his chances today.

Djakadam: Looked as if sky was the limit when bolting up at Gowran Park and Limerick, compensating for unlucky unseat at Thurles on Irish debut; Put in his place by One Fine Day at Fairyhouse latest however and while he may like this ground more, still disappointing and more needed.

Dogora: Looked good on first two Irish starts but found out readily up in class the last time, beaten by Stocktons Wing in February and again when returning to Fairyhouse last time and well behind One Fine Day; Others preffered.

Stocktons Wing: As close as any of these has gotten to Our Conor, but brushed aside by Blood Cotil the next time out and while he then bounced back in good style with comprehensive Fairyhouse win over two of these, went quickly from going well to pulled up in Triumph; Will do better today but more needed.

One Fine Day: Shock winner at Fairyhouse considering just how far he’d been beaten in his 4 previous hurdling starts, beaten a long way by Blood Cotil and then Stocktons Wing; Very likely that ground conditions helped him to that success and back on heavy, may be exposed today.

VERDICT: DIAKALI was beaten a long way in the Triumph but that still looks to be the best form and his second to Our Conor in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle gives him the beating of Blood Cotil, who ran admirably in the Fred Winter under top weight, and Stocktons Wing, of whom better is expected than in the Triumph.