Dame De Compagnie bids to sign off in style for Henderson before summer break

2.05 Punchestown
Ladbrokes Handicap Chase | 2m4f | 5yo+ | RTV

Nicky Henderson will send out just his second runner in Ireland since the Covid-19 pandemic began as 2020 Coral Cup heroine Dame De Compagnie contests a competitive €21,000 handicap chase on her way home to owner JP McManus' Martinstown Stud.

The talented mare has had an unconventional first campaign over fences, beating Fighting Fifth Hurdle winner Cornerstone Lad in a match at Ayr in January before being badly hampered and unseating Nico de Boinville in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown.

Dame De Compagnie: edged out this year's Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle winner Black Tears to win the 2020 Coral Cup at CheltenhamCredit: Edward Whitaker

She failed to fire when down the field in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, but now bids to get back on track as Mark Walsh partners her for the first time.

"She has only had two runs over fences and because she's rated so high it's tricky to find anything for her in in England," said Henderson. "Whatever happens, I just need to get that third run into her before she goes home to JP McManus' for summer.

"The Scilly Isles just came a bit too soon for her, I was trying to get her ready for Cheltenham but it was bottomless ground and she struggled in it.

"She was a bit disappointing in the Mares' Hurdle, but she's been in good form since and is schooling very well."

Rapid Response (near side): landed the €60,000 Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Glencarraig Lady Francis Flood Mares Handicap Chase at Punchestown last monthCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Dame De Compagnie tops the weights with a rating of 145, while the likes of Rapid Response, Pont Aven, Jerandme and Kildorrery bring some useful Punchestown festival form to the table.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Somptueux looked to be improving when winning at Fairyhouse last month and a bold bid from Tuesday's Mayo National casualty Optical Confusion could well be on the cards.

Mount Pelier is another interesting contender having looked a promising chaser for Barry Connell back in the winter of 2019, but he has missed 561 days since.

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Pont Aven
He ran a great race under Adam Short, who rides him again on Sunday, over this course and distance last month. He'll go on the ground and a little improvement on his last run should suffice.

Mount Pelier (yellow and navy): jumps the first alongside Grade 1 winner Notebook in the 2019 Elliott Group Craddockstown Novice ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Barry Connell, trainer of Mount Pelier
He's back from a break after we had to get his wind done so hopefully that won't trouble him. This will be a bit of a fact-finding mission but we're hoping he can run well and then have a decent summer campaign.

Michael Butler, trainer of Optical Confusion
He was bit unfortunate [to unseat] at Ballinrobe but the eventual winner, Agent Boru, was second to our horse two starts earlier. There's not a lot coming up so we'll take our chance and he looks to have as live a chance as any.

Noel Meade, trainer of Jerandme
He likes fast ground so he might not be a certain runner if the ground doesn't dry up. I think he stays three miles fine but two and a half shouldn't be a problem either.

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