18 entries for Punchestown Champion Hunters Chase

18 horses have been entered for the Star Best Racing Champion Hunters Chase at Punchestown on Friday which is due off at 18:35.

The €30,000 contest takes place over an extended three miles and in order to qualify horse must have been placed first, second, third or fourth in a Hunters Chase or a point-to-point, since September 2015 while not having won a race other than the afore mentioned since March 2018.

Cheltenham Foxhunters winner Hazel Hill bids to follow up on his success at the Festival for handler Philip Rowley, while the Aintree Foxhunters winner Top Wood may also represent Kelly Morgan. A clash between these two would certainly be a great spectacle in what looks to be a competitive renewal.

In fact raiders from across the water may well be set to have quite a strong hand in this year’s renewal as last year’s winner Caid Du Berlaix may well bid to bounce back to form here for Rose Loxton having pulled up in the Cheltenham equivalent.

Amongst the leading Irish hopes are both Aintree Foxhunters second and third – Burning Ambition and Coastal Tiep, both ran huge races over the National fences and would be interesting contenders here.

Connections will be hoping for plenty of rain with recent Tetratema winner Fenno’s Storm, who is at his best with an ease in the ground.

The Gordon Elliott-trained Ucello Conti has certainly regained the winning thread this season and the 11-year-old should play a part here having won three Hunter Chases since Christmas.

Recent Hunter Chase winners It Came To Pass and Billaway would both also have their chances here for connections.

Click here to see the full list of entries.