Impaire Et Passe could be Willie Mullins’ challenger in the 2024 Champion Hurdle, according to Paddy Power pundit Ruby Walsh.
The five-year-old gelding trounced stablemates Gaelic Warrior and Champ Kiely in impressive fashion to land the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle on the second day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
The Ballymore has traditionally thrown up future winners of the Champion Hurdle and trainer Willie Mullins could opt to stick to the smaller obstacles instead of going novice chasing next season.
Speaking on the Cheltenham Review episode of our From The Horse’s Mouth podcast, our resident jockey-turned-pundit Ruby fancies Impaire Et Passe to take in the Championship race and potentially face Constitution Hill.
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Ruby Walsh:
“A good choice from Paul Townend as Gaelic Warrior was second and Champ Kiely was third. He could have ridden any of the three. He nailed it on Impaire Et Passe. Settled, jumped, travelled, quickened. He was really good.
“I’d imagine [the Champion Hurdle] is where he will go. It will be interesting to see which race he runs in at Punchestown. I imagine he will staying hurdling.
“I haven’t spoken to Willie yet and I’d be surprised if he’s thought about it yet.
“He loves to have a Champion Hurdle horse in his yard and I’d be surprised if he doesn’t give this horse a chance.”
*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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