Billaway's the best horse in the race but will the busy season take its toll?

6.35 Punchestown
Irish Daily Star Champion Hunters Chase | 3m½f | 4yo+ | RTV/RTE2

This is another typically competitive running with Billaway just about setting the standard on overall form.

The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old has emerged as one of the leading performers in this sphere in recent times. Having accounted for many of these rivals in strong hunter chases at Down Royal and Naas this season, he ran a cracker when second under Paul Townend at Cheltenham.

Connections then dropped him in trip for the Foxhunters at Aintree, but that clearly did not work out for Billaway as he was flat to the mat the whole time before finishing like a train to take fifth spot.

Stepping back up in distance will be a major advantage, as is the fact Mullins' horses can seemingly do no wrong this week, but the one question mark hovering over Billaway is that he comes into this off the back of a busy campaign and this may be a step too far.

If there is a chink in his armour, the British raider Caid Du Berlais may well exploit it.

Winner of the race in 2018 and 2019, Caid Du Berlais has proved his wellbeing in a couple of winnable races in Britain this spring and should not be underestimated back at his favourite hunting ground.

O'Sullivan predicting return to form

Things have not gone exactly to plan with It Came To Pass since he won last season's Foxhunter at Cheltenham last year, but his trainer Eugene O'Sullivan is predicting a return to form this time.

It Came To Pass is a different beast on nice ground, which he is likely to get here, and O'Sullivan is hopeful of ending the season with a bang.

He explained: "I'm expecting a big run from him. Nice ground is what I need so hopefully the rain stays away.

"He's been a brilliant horse for us and has just been a bit unlucky this season. Things haven't quite gone to plan, but we hope to finish the season on a good note. He seems to be back to his best at home."

It Came To Pass beat Billaway when landing the Foxhunter at the festival in 2020Credit: Edward Whitaker

What they say

Enda Bolger, trainer of Auvergnat and Staker Wallace
Auvergnat ran well the last day at Cork. Whether he's good enough or not to beat these, I don't know. The other horse is in good form and we're looking forward to it.

Patrick Mullins, rider of Billaway
Billaway didn't take to the track at Aintree. He seems to have come out of that well and has schooled well since so hopefully he can get back to his Cheltenham Festival form.

David Maxwell, owner-rider of Bob And Co
He's got a good chance. He was going well when he unseated three out at Cheltenham and he had a nice confidence-booster at Hexham. It's Ireland's champion hunter chase so it's a good race, but he could be the best horse in it and I've always thought he wants a fight, he's tough and he stays on well.

Will Biddick, rider of Caid Du Berlais
I can't wait for it. He's obviously a bit older and he's had two races this year that wouldn't be on the same level as what he'll face here. But he's in very good form and he's had a nice preparation so we're expecting a nice run out of him. He's a bit older so his legs might not be as quick. I'm not sure what it is he loves about Punchestown. It's a bit later in the season and he's had more sun on his back. It's a big galloping course and you seem to have a bit more time around there. Cheltenham can be quite tight and trappy and he hasn't enjoyed it there the times I've ridden him even though he won a Paddy Power. It was a deliberate decision to avoid it this year and go straight to Punchestown to bid for the third win. Time will tell whether that's optimistic or not.

Denise Foster, trainer of Jury Duty
He ran well when third at Fairyhouse last time having won on his previous start at Thurles so he's had a good season in this sphere and has been holding his own in good hunter chases. We'd like to think he can be competitive again now and we're just mixing things up with a visor for the first time.

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