My Pun is no joker, says Geraghty

BARRY GERAGHTY believes Punjabi has been underestimated ahead of his bid for back-to-back victories in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle today.

The Meath man felt he could not desert Raymond Tooth’s gelding for stablemate Zaynar and reports the seven-year-old to be in tip-top form.

“There is no way I could desert Punjabi when you consider what he’s achieved and more important – how he is right now,” he said on his blog.

“He looks well, feels well and just seems to be telling you that this is his time of year. I was going through the race again on Monday morning and whichever way you look at it, he’s going to be bang there.

“As for the opposition, you couldn’t have any confidence in Solwhit after his problems. I still see Go Native as my biggest threat – especially now that the ground is drying. Khyber Kim comes into it as an improving horse and, as you know, it wasn’t easy for me to desert Zaynar.”

Nicky Henderson also saddles Zaynar and Binocular. “Punjabi might lack sex appeal, but he has won the race before and wears a crown that says Champion Hurdle on it,” he said. “Zaynar was beaten at 1-14 at Kelso but hated the ground that day.

“It wasn’t an ideal preparation, but I am glad we ran him and I have been happy with him at home since.”

Binocular was touched off by a neck and a head from Punjabi and Celestial Halo 12 months ago.

“We have had a funny time with Binocular. I said he wasn’t going to run and he went on his travels, but is back now and the key to him is his hurdling,” explained Henderson.

“He schooled 12 hurdles last Wednesday and he looked like the old Binocular, he was very, very quick.”

The Paul Nicholls-trained Celestial Halo is back to improve on his narrow defeat but owner Andy Stewart is not expecting fireworks.

He said: “I think you can put a line through last year’s one-two-three as they have not really franked the form since. Go Native sets the standard and he is the one we have to beat.”

Medermit’s a surprise package this season and lowered the colours of Punjabi at Haydock. “He’s in good order,” said trainer Alan King.