Fry hopes Harry can reverse Cheltenham form with rivals

Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle | Grade 1 | 3m, 4yo+ | RTE1/ATR

Prior to the Cheltenham Festival, Unowhatimeanharry had never been beaten while in the care of Harry Fry. Following an unexpected reverse at the sport's biggest meeting, connections are hoping normal service is now resumed.

Such was the dominance the 2016 festival winner appeared to have over the top three-milers, he was sent off at 5-6 to claim the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle only to find both Nichols Canyon and Lil Rockerfeller too strong from the final flight.

Noel Fehily replaced JP McManus's retained rider Barry Geraghty at Cheltenham and will do so again in a race that Fry hopes could yet be staged on ground more akin to that which Unowhatimeanharry so relished when sweeping his first three starts of the season.

"They're watering but a bit of rain would also be a positive," said Fry.

"We definitely saw his best form on slower ground in the winter. He didn't run badly on quicker ground at Cheltenham but he didn't run as well as we had hoped.

"We decided not to go to Aintree and he is very well in himself for this race. It won't be easy with the two horses who finished in front of him at Cheltenham and a very unexposed horse, Sutton Place, against him. However, we're looking forward to seeing him run."

Pros Had looked the best in the division prior to Cheltenham, where unsuitable ground conditions seemed to contribute to his defeat.

Cons The Punchestown ground may not be as soft as he would like, while the form of his Stayers' Hurdle defeat was broadly similar to that of his earlier wins.