Unbeaten novice Klassical Dream will be expected to boost his Champion Hurdle credentials by landing the Morgiana Hurdle in Punchestown today.
Willie Mullins has won the last eight runnings of the Morgiana and is responsible for three of the five runners today, making the nine-in-a-row almost a formality.
And five-year-old Klassical Dream will be sent off an odds-on favourite to confirm his position as Champion Hurdle favourite, despite the presence of two formidable stablemates, last year’s
winner Sharjah and the unexposed Sadlier, last seen when crashing out at the second last at Naas last
November, when upsides ill-fated, subsequent Champion Hurdle victor Espoir D’allen.
But all eyes will be on five-year-old Klassical Dream, winner of his maiden at Leopardstown last Christmas before digging deep to get the better of stablemate Aramon in the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle on the same track.
Despite racing keenly, the Dream Well gelding proved an impressive winner of the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham, powering up the hill to beat Thomas Darby and registered his third Grade 1 victory when proving too strong for subsequent Aintree winner Felix Desjy at Punchestown.
Rated 160, Klassical Dream will be tested by Saldier and Sharjah, which turned over Faugheen in this race last year before landing the Ryanair at Leopardstown.
But the favourite should continue the Mullins domination of the race and provide stable-jockey Paul Townend with a Morgiana hat-trick.
On the supporting card, which features the Grade 2 Elliott Group Craddockstown Novice Chase, the star attraction will be former champion Faugheen, making his chasing debut, at the age of 11, in the Naas Oil Beginners Chase.
Pulled up at Aintree in his final start last season, Faugheen had finished a creditable third behind
Paisley Park and Sam Spinner in the Stayers at Cheltenham and it’ll be fascinating to see how he fares today.
Henry de Bromhead holds a strong hand in the Craddockstown, running both 151-rated Moon Over Germany and Notebook, which impressed me when beating subsequent winner Éclair de Beaufeu (reopposing) on his fencing bow on this track last month and is expected to score again under Rachael Blackmore.
Another feature of today’s card is the hurdling bow of Blue Sari who is a confident choice in the Kildare Now Maiden Hurdle.
Peter O'Hehir's tips
12.15.Authorized Art
12.50.Faugheen
1.25.Notebook
2.00.Klassical Dream
2.35.Blue Sari
3.10.Se Mo Laoch
3.40.The Big Getaway (Nap)
4.00.Chosen Mate
Next Best
12.15.Anything Will Do
12.50.Dommage Pour Toi
1.25.Moon Over Germany
2.00.Saldier
2.35.The Bosses Oscar
3.10.Notice To Close
3.40.Torygraph
4.00.Whisperinthebreeze
Double: Blue Sari and The Big Getaway.
O’Hehir’s Longshot: Friary Rock (2.35.)
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