Top stayers go again in bid to unearth a marathon champion

For much of the campaign it all seemed rather straightforward.

Unowhatimeanharry, the previous season's top long-distance novice but now sporting new green and gold hoops, went through his first three starts unbeaten. Newbury's Long Distance Hurdle, Ascot's Long Walk Hurdle and Cheltenham's Cleeve Hurdle were all mopped up. The return to Cheltenham last month was expected to yield a second festival success. It did not.

JP McManus's high-profile acquisition was sent off at 5-6 for the rebranded Stayers' Hurdle, but although he stayed the three miles extremely well he did not stay it as quickly as 10-1 winner Nichols Canyon or 33-1 runner-up Lil Rockerfeller. Encouragingly for those who like a little order in life, the trio come face to face to face once more at Punchestown.

They renew rivalry in a race that is once more the Champion Stayers Hurdle after Ladbrokes dropped the World Series Hurdle title that made more sense when Cheltenham's Stayers' Hurdle (note the use of an apostrophe in the Cotswolds) was being run as the World Hurdle. This Punchestown prize was initially staged as the Tipperkevin Hurdle but reverting to that handle might well have been deemed too radical.

Have bike, won't travel

Stepping Nichols Canyon up to three miles was not radical but sensible, given Graham and Andrea Wylie's hardy performer had begun to seem exposed as not quite good enough over two miles. On his second outing over the marathon distance – the first had come at Percy Warner Park, something seldom written in a Punchestown preview – the seven-time Grade 1 winner became an eight-time Grade 1 winner. He was, however, assisted by having both Ruby Walsh and a rail.

Lil Rockerfeller, the fabulous flagbearer for Neil King's yard, had neither Ruby nor rail and was cruelly mugged up Prestbury Park's final punishing hill. A top-flight triumph would be absolutely deserved, and it might happen, although not here under regular rider Trevor Whelan, recently injured when falling off his bike. Richard Johnson is the lucky man chosen to take Whelan's place.

Sutton not out of place in this sphere

Yet this day three highlight is far from just about the Cheltenham principals.

Whereas Nichols Canyon was having his second excursion over three miles when securing his most important victory, Yanworth was debuting over the distance when staking his own claim for top stayer honours at Aintree. At Punchestown Sutton Place, also a newcomer to the trip, could potentially usurp them all in the rankings.

Sutton Place: is a fascinating runner upped in trip in the Champion Stayers HurdleCredit: Alain Barr

Like Nichols Canyon's trainer Willie Mullins – who in addition runs Clondaw Warrior, Shaneshill and Footpad – arch rival Gordon Elliott has four representatives. By a long way the shortest-priced is the McManus-owned Sutton Place.

At Navan in February, moved up from 2m to 2m5f, he brushed aside stablemate De Plotting Shed, who again turns up here, alongside fellow Elliott hopes Jury Duty and Lieutenant Colonel. With only six runs to his name, and having yet to taste defeat over hurdles, Sutton Place justifiably wears the 'could be anything' tag.

Also worthy of consideration is last year's winner, the Warren Greatrex-trained One Track Mind, who in two starts over fences this season has suggested his mind is not sufficiently well tuned to jumping fences. He returns to familiar territory seeking to become the event's first repeat winner since Quevega.

Fences could be Field's biggest concern

The man who masterminded Quevega's career also fields the likely hot favourite for the card's second Grade 1 feature, the Ryanair Novice Chase, in which watching Great Field (another for McManus) could provide one of the meeting's biggest thrills.

In all three of his runs over fences Great Field has made every inch of the running, winning by a combined total of nearly 50 lengths. However, he has given his supporters – and indeed jockey Jody McGarvey – some terrifying moments having committed grievous bodily harm on a worryingly large number of fences. With no superstars against him, the 11 Punchestown fences could provide his biggest threat.

Bank on Bolger over banks

The fences in the Friends First-backed La Touche Cup include, as ever, a host of up banks, drop banks, double banks and much else besides. Enda Bolger has trained the winner on 13 occasions – he rode the winner three times as well – and has a massive chance of doing so again with Cantlow.

The staying hurdlers' division may be complicated. With Enda on your side, the banks business tends to be reassuringly simple.

Thursday Punchestown card