Punjabi poised to get back on track at Punchestown

PUNJABI will bid to rebuild his slightly tarnished reputation in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.

Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old went into Cheltenham as the defending champion hurdler and hopes were high he could retain his crown after a confidence-boosting win at Kempton three weeks previously.

But after racing fairly prominently in the early stages, he dropped away tamely in the final half mile to finish ninth of the 12 runners.