Daryl Jacob excited to be reunited with Concertista in Champion Stayers Hurdle

Daryl Jacob is relishing the chance to be reunited with high-class mare Concertista in Thursday's Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (5.25) – the first time the pair have teamed up since running riot in the 2020 Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

A field of eight were declared on Tuesday for the Grade 1 worth €275,000, including Concertista's stablemate Klassical Dream, who was produced masterfully after a layoff by Willie Mullins to score by nine lengths in this race last year.

Standing in his way this time will be Paisley Park, who finished two places and two and a quarter lengths in front when the pair filled third and fifth behind Flooring Porter at Cheltenham last month.

Klassical Dream: will bid for back-to-back wins in Thursday's feature event at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Liverpool Hurdle hero Sire Du Berlais and Fairyhouse absentee Thedevilscoachman give owner JP McManus a strong hand, while Ashdale Bob and Gentlemansgame represent Jessica Harrington and Mouse Morris in a rare Grade 1 in which the eight runners come from seven different yards.

Vanillier reverts to hurdles for Gavin Cromwell after failing to jump with much fluency in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.

Jacob, who has won Grade 1s at the Punchestown festival aboard Reve De Sivola, Footpad and Fusil Raffles, is hoping Concertista can rediscover her best now reverting to hurdles from a spell chasing.

"I'm really looking forward to riding her again," said Jacob.

"I hope she's going to be happier back over hurdles. I know she won on her first two starts over fences this season but it just didn't happen for her in the Mares' Chase at Cheltenham when we hoped she'd run very well.

Daryl Jacob on Concertista: 'She's got a few pounds to find on ratings but the mares' allowance will be a help to her'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"She's got a few pounds to find on ratings but the mares' allowance will be a help to her. I'll be heading down to Willie Mullins' yard in the morning and hopefully will have a sit on her before Thursday."

Jacob added: "I possibly wouldn't have been sure about three miles for her in the past but she won over just shy of two miles and seven furlongs at Limerick this season.

"I also rode Footpad for Simon, Isaac and Willie in this race back in 2017 when he was taking a big step up in trip. He handled it well to finish third so it would be great if Concertista could run a nice race here too."

Among those to come out at final declarations were a trio of talented mares in Burning Victory, Heaven Help Us and My Sister Sarah, all of whom hold the alternative engagement of the Coolmore Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares' Champion Hurdle on Saturday.

The other two to miss out are Melon and Commander Of Fleet.

Gentleman De Mee defeated Edwardstone at Aintree last timeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The key players have all stood their ground for the second Grade 1 on the card, the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (6.35) over two miles.

Gabynako and Blue Lord filled the minor places in the Arkle at the Festival, while Gentleman De Mee belied his inexperience over fences to deny Edwardstone the Cheltenham-Aintree double earlier this month.

Two of the other beaten horses from the Arkle – sixth-placed Haut En Couleurs and Saint Sam, who unseated, join Blue Lord in a three-strong challenge for Mullins, while Rachael Blackmore opts for Coeur Sublime over Maskada among a pair of Henry de Bromhead-trained runners.

Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (5.25)

1 Ashdale Bob Robbie Power
2 GentlemansgameRachael Blackmore
3 Klassical Dream Paul Townend
4 Paisley Park Aidan Coleman
5 Sire Du BerlaisMark Walsh
6 Thedevilscoachman Sean Flanagan
7 VanillierKeith Donoghue
8 Concertista Daryl Jacob

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