Punchestown prize-money set to tempt Cheltenham trio
Kicking King (Gold Cup), Moscow Flyer (Queen Mother Champion Chase) and Hardy Eustace (Champion Hurdle) are being enticed by prize-money totalling €2.1 million - €400,000 more than last year.
The first of the three due to be in action is Jessica Harrington’s Moscow Flyer, who is out to repeat last year’s win in the €180,000 Kerrygold Champion Chase on day one, Tuesday, April 26.
The opening card will also feature the new €75,000 Tote Ireland 75th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle and the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle which has produced some top class performers in the past such as Brave Inca and Back In Front.
Tom Taaffe has earmarked Kicking King for the €225,000 Guinness Gold Cup on the Wednesday when he could be taken on by the Robert Alner-trained Kingscliff, who missed Cheltenham after an unsatisfactory workout.
Willie Mullins’s rising star Missed That, winner of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, is expected to be on show in the €100,000 Paddy Power Champion Bumper, the richest Grade One Bumper in Britain and Ireland.
On day three, Spot Thedifference will aim to pick up a €50,000 bonus if he follows up his Cheltenham cross-country success in the Blue Square Steeplechase for the La Touche Cup. The 12-year-old won this four-and-a-quarter mile race 12 months ago.
Jonjo O’Neill’s Iris’s Gift may also bid to lift the €170,000 Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers Hurdle for the second year running.
Hardy Eustace, Harchibald and Brave Inca - the first three home in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle - could renew rivalry in the €160,000 Emo Oil Champion Hurdle. Hardy Eustace, who prevailed in a finish of necks at Cheltenham, took this prize last year.
Punchestown manager Dick O’Sullivan said: “Our €2.1 million prize fund has ensured that the best overseas and Irish-trained runners intend to run and we anticipate that at least seven of the nine Irish Cheltenham winners will run here.”
