2021 Punchestown Champion Hurdle Tips - Can this 10/1 shot upset Honeysuckle?

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Wed 28 Apr 2021 10:35

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Jon Vine 28 Apr 2021

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We've published our guide to the 2021 Punchestown Champion Hurdle
This Grade One headlines the card on day four of the Punchestown Festival on Friday 30th April
Honeysuckle tops the betting with Paddy Power
Aspire Tower is our each-way selection at 10/1

Expired

Aspire Tower (left) finishing fourth behind Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle. (Getty)

The penultimate day of racing at the Punchestown Festival is headlined by the Punchestown Champion Hurdle. Legends like Istabraq, Faugheen and Hurricane Fly have won this race since it's creation, and the unbeaten Honeysuckle will bid to join the illustrious list of winners on Friday afternoon.

2021 Punchestown Champion Hurdle Odds

Name	Odds
Honeysuckle	8/15
Epatante	11/2
Sharjah	9/1
Abacadabras	10/1
Aspire Tower	10/1
Goshen	10/1
Jason The Militant	14/1
Silver Streak	25/1
Darver Star	33/1

*Odds taken from Paddy Power on 28/4/21*

2021 Punchestown Champion Hurdle Runners

A look back through the history of this Grade One will tell you that horses coming from off the pace have got a very poor record. In fact, in the entire history of the race, Wicklow Brave is the only hold-up horse to have won, and even he made his move early enough to ensure he was in the lead turning for home.

Sharjah and Epatante came from the rear to place in the Champion Hurdle, but those tactics won't pay dividends at Punchestown. Abacadabras will likely be held up off the pace too, and I doubt whether he has the two-mile speed to really get involved in the finish.

There's going to be tons of pace on here. Jason The Militant likes to lead. Silver Streak won his Grade One from the front, and when Goshen has been at his best, he's been allowed to bowl on at the front.

All three have to be respected. Yet, I fear Jason The Militant may be better over a longer trip. Goshen is a complete nut-job who cannot be trusted, and Silver Streak - while valiant and consistent - is usually outclassed at Grade One level.

2021 Punchestown Champion Hurdle Tips

Honeysuckle will get a lovely toe into the race and Rachael Blackmore's mount will be very difficult to pass once she hits the front.

However, there is a chance Honeysuckle could underperform. This will be her first start around this track and the ground is a little quicker than she would ideally like. If that does happen, then the chief beneficiary could be her stablemate, ASPIRE TOWER.

Henry De Bromhead's five-year-old made-all to beat Abacadabras and Jason The Millitant at Down Royal on his reappearance. Aspire Tower jumped well out in front at Leopardstown over Christmas, and only race-specialist Sharjah was good enough to pass the leader.

Again, Aspire Tower made the running in the Champion Hurdle. His jumping wasn't entirely convincing throughout, and a decidedly dodgy leap at the second-last opened the door for Honeysuckle to take over. Robbie Power's mount could easily have spat the dummy out after that mistake, but Aspire Tower didn't crumble and stayed on well up the hill to hang on to fourth place.

The two worst rounds of jumping in Aspire Tower's career have come around Cheltenham. De Bromhead's five-year-old is two-from-two going right-handed, securing a 13-length course-and-distance triumph on his hurdles debut as a juvenile in 2019.

Verdict

2021 Punchestown Champion Hurdle

Honeysuckle is certainly the one to beat. However, front-running tactics often pay dividends in this two-miler, and Aspire Tower has shown enough throughout his career to suggest he's capable of challenging at the business end of things. At 10/1, he offers plenty of each-way appeal.

Aspire Tower

Each-Way

@10/1 - 10 Units

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