Day 4 of the Punchestown Festival has the Rabobank Champion Hurdle as the centre piece at 17.30 pm this evening. Punjabi just got home at Cheltenham and is fancied to win here. The forgotton horse is Sizing Europe (pictured) who has had his training problems. His trainer, Henry de Bromhead, states "the horse to be over his problems". If that is the case Sizing Europe should make the frame and could be the each way bet. At 18.05 pm we have the Land Rover Champion Novice Hurdle which looks as though it will be another winner for the Willie Mullins yard. He runs the impressive Cheltenham winner Mikael D'Haquenet and Cousin Vinny who will be ridden by Patrick Mullins, teenage son of the trainer. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Day 3 of the Punchestown Festival has the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle run over 3 miles as the feature race at 17.30 pm this evening. This will be a slog in the the heavy ground and might well suit Brave Inca (pictured) who will be running over the distance for only the second time. He has the services of Tony McCoy who might well be able to galvanize him into a place. Fivefourthree the mount of Ruby Walsh looks a worthy favourite and should provide trainer Willie Mullins with yet another winner. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Cheltenham's loss to the racing last Saturday is now Ascot's gain with them being able to stage the Boylesports International Hurdle and add it to an already excellent card. Binocular (pictured) was antepost favourite to win at Cheltenham and with only four other runners tomorrow, including Katchit, he still looks to have a favourites chance of winning this for J.P.McManus. The big betting race of the day is the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle worth £150,000 run over 2 miles. J.P. McManus has a very strong hand in this with his two runners Aigle D'or and Belcantista. Belcantista has been very well backed in the antepost market this week. Aigle D'or has the services of Tony McCoy and could continue the winning run that Nicky Henderson has had with his Hurdlers. Ashkazar from the the David Pipe yard is another with strong credentials. Nicky Henderson will probably have the favourite for the BGC Longwalk Hurdle worth £100,000 run over 3 miles one furlong in Punchestowns who was mighty impressive on his only run this season. Blazing Bailey would stand a great chance if he runs to his best form. Lough Derg won this race last year benefiting from an ill judged ride by the other jockeys in the race. Elusive Dream looks as though he will be suited by the distance after some good staying performances last season. At the odds he looks the one to take a chance with. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours click on the sporting life. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Unfortunately I will not be able to get across to Ireland for the Punchestown Festival this year. The Irish hospitality is brillant and the atmosphere is terrific. The entrance fees to the course are much more realistic than the fancy prices at Cheltenham. The race of the meeting looks to be the three mile Champion Stayers Hurdle where Mighty Man, Brave Inca, Hardy Eustace and Skys The Limit all take part. The Gold Cup looks as though it could go to In Compliance who will be a fresh horse. Good old Beef or Salmon will be trying for his 11th Grade One in Ireland. The Champion Hurdle looks to be between Sublimity who was so impressive at Cheltenham and my old favourite Macs Joy. I will miss not being there but for all the latest runners and riders go to at the races. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

With Macs Joy a non runner the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle looks as though it will be fought out by the three market leaders. On the softish ground the winner will need to stay two and half miles. For me it is a race to watch and enjoy and not bet on. I do not think there is much between Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace and I think they will both be too strong for Detroit City. If I had to make a selection now it would be Brave Inca. However the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase at 4.00pm although a hot race has a runner that I have been waiting for. He is Distant Thunder. He was quietly fancied by connections for the Hennessy at Newbury in November but injured himself at the 24th hour. Andrew McNamara has been booked to ride and I think he is a good eachway bet on his form of two seasons ago. I would have thought he would have been a bigger price than the 10/1 quoted , but perhaps "others" have also been waiting for him. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Macs Joy has dropped out of Cheltenham Champion Hurdle with a pulled muscle so the ante-post bet has been lost. I will now wait until Monday evening to see the state of the going before making another selection. There does not seem to be a great deal of value at the moment. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Now that all the trials have taken place and having listened to the trainers and jockeys opinions it would seem that the favourite Detroit City has the top three Irish Hurdlers to beat. The Champion Hurdle at Punchestown last April could hold the key where Macs Joy beat Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace. If you discount Macs Joy's last run then he would appear to be good each way value for the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle. He might even beat Detroit City. Lets hope they all get to the post fit and well.It should be a fascinating race. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".