*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing/Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason, you will lose your stake under traditional antepost rules
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Ruby Walsh and Frank Hickey cannot wait for one of the match-ups of the Punchestown Festival when Chacun Pour Soi and Allaho go head-to-head in the Champion Chase [Tuesday, April 27 – 17.25].
Ryanair Chase winner Allaho is set to drop down in trip to 2m after a dominant performance at Cheltenham while his stablemate is looking to bounce back after finishing third in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Prestbury Park.
The Willie Mullins-trained duo head the betting in what promises to be a spectacular contest, although there are several other contenders who could get involved at the Co. Kildare track.
Speaking on a special edition of Paddy Power’s From The Horse’s Mouth podcast, jockey-turned-pundit Ruby and expert trader Frank discussed the race and tried to pick a winner.
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Ruby Walsh
Chacun Pour Soi was disappointing in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham and has some questions to answer. Was his display because of the slowly run race, the track or the hill? I don’t know, but he underperformed – whichever way you look at it.
He’s rated 2lbs behind Allaho, who won the Ryanair, but this is a big drop down in trip to 2m for Allaho. That is the big question mark for him.
Meanwhile Put The Kettle On is probably going to be in Sandown. She’s the Champion Chase winner so we should be saying ‘will Chacun Pour Soi and Allaho take her on?’ but she may well go to Sandown to face Altior, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she did.
Fakir D’Oudairies was a good winner over 2½m at Aintree, but Nube Negra could be in at Sandown as well. First Flow is better right-handed and it would depend on the ground where he goes. You’ve then got Cilaos Emery, Notebook, Castlegrace Paddy and Daly Tiger.
Back at this track, at this trip, I would be in the Chacun camp but I know that Willie Mullins does want to give Allaho a crack at this trip to see if he is a champion chaser.
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Frank Hickey
This is an intriguing race. My gut would say this will set up perfectly for Chacun Pour Soi if Allaho goes out in front and goes relatively hard.
Is Allaho a two-miler? He was brilliant at Cheltenham but this would be a different test. I am leaning towards Chacun Pour Soi, as I think it was the stiffer finish at Cheltenham that found him out. He’s not a bad horse – only beaten a length in the Champion Chase – and Punchestown will be more his track.
*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing/Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason, you will lose your stake under traditional antepost rules
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