General Miller leads Champion charge

Nicky Henderson’s General Miller will look to follow up his Aintree victory in tomorrow’s Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.

A first-flight casualty in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, won by Menorah, he left connections wondering what might have been when beating Philip Hobbs’ charge at Aintree.

Another British raider is Charlie McBride’s Rollwiththepunches, second to another smart Hobbs novice, Captain Chris, on his last start at Kempton.

Willie Mullins runs Flat Out, fifth in the Supreme, and Blackstairmountain, who disappointed at Cheltenham but ran much better when only worn down close home by Luska Lad at Fairyhouse.

Henry de Bromhead lets the exciting Loosen My Load take his chance, while Sweeps Hill, a classy bumper performer last term, has his first run of the calendar year.

Tom Mullins relies upon Some Slam, winner of a Naas maiden hurdle on his last start.

The Gordon Elliott-trained Grey Soldier, a disappointment in the Dovecote at Kempton, Eddie Harty’s Baron De’l and Tilabay complete the line-up.