Key horses and questions as Minella Indo and Blackmore bid for festival double

5.30 Punchestown
Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m | 4yo+ | RTE2/RTV

Can Indo follow up Albert Bartlett win?

Ireland dominated the finish of the Cheltenham Festival's 3m novice hurdle and the first, second and third from that race reoppose, headed by shock winner Minella Indo.

In the Cheltenham winner's enclosure trainer Henry de Bromhead described Minella Indo as "a chancer at home", which seemed appropriate as not many punters wanted to take a chance on him on the track.

Barry Maloney's six-year-old was sent off at 50-1 but ran out a decisive winner, losing his maiden tag under rules under Rachael Blackmore when defeating 4-1 favourite Commander Of Fleet by two lengths, with Allaho seven lengths further back in third.

Henry de Bromhead hugs Rachael Blackmore after Minella Indo's win in the Albert Bartlett Novices' HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

No winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle has ever gone on to land Punchestown's equivalent prize but Minella Indo undoubtedly looks the one to beat here.

Will Fleet sink Minella on rematch day?

Commander Of Fleet was unable to supplement his top-flight Dublin Racing Festival success when the Albert Bartlett's 4-1 favourite, but ran a cracker to take second and now attempts to reverse form with Minella Indo.

Commander Of Fleet is chasing his second Grade 1 win of the seasonCredit: Caroline Norris

Trainer Gordon Elliott, who also runs Cheltenham third Defi Bleu, said: "You couldn't have asked more of Commander Of Fleet on his last two starts, winning at Leopardstown and running second in the Albert Bartlett. He's got a good chance.

"Defi Bleu disappointed at Leopardstown before running well in the Martin Pipe. This will be a step up for him but the trip and the ground should help."

Can Allaho prove Walsh right by progressing from Cheltenham?

Willie Mullins has won three of the last four runnings of this Grade 1 contest and he has four chances to enhance that excellent record.

Ruby Walsh, quite obviously, has only one opportunity to net the race and has opted for Cheltenham third Allaho in preference to last month's Limerick winner Carefully Selected, Castlebawn West and Salsaretta.

Walsh's decision was clearly well received by Allaho's owners Cheveley Park Stud, whose colours he carried to victory when leaving Minella Indo four lengths adrift at Clonmel in February.

The stud's managing director Chris Richardson said: "Ruby rates the horse highly and has been very loyal to him.

Allaho and Ruby Walsh en route to an impressive success at Clonmel in FebruaryCredit: Patrick McCann

"He rode him with a view to the future last time and I think he was pleasantly surprised. If the race could be re-run he might even have ridden him closer to the pace, which might have led to him being closer at the finish.

"I saw him last week and he looks fantastic. Whatever he does in this race he's a horse for the future."

Can Mr Consistent capture more prize-money?

The only horse in the line-up chasing a hat-trick is Go Another One, trained by John McConnell, who has won at Thurles and Perth on his last two starts and has not finished worse than second in all nine of his runs in the past couple of years.

McConnell said: "I know there wasn't much depth to the race at Perth but there were still decent horses in there and he won comfortably.

Go Another One flies the last under Richard JohnsonCredit: Grossick Photography

"He's come out of the race in great shape so we're back out again quickly. I know it's a big jump in grade but, if he settles early and hunts around, I could see him picking up a bit of prize-money."

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