Looking back on the first day at Punchestown where some much needed rain had eased the ground to Yielding.
Three Grade 1 races on the opening day card - the 3200m novice hurdle saw the odds on favourite ECHOES IN RAIN build on the promise of her Fairyhouse win and she looks another tremendous mare for Willie Mullins. BLUE LORD set the pace but was a sitting duck off the home turn and faded to third behind the fast finishing COLONEL MUSTARD. Not sure what the longer term plans for the winner would be at this stage.
The 3200m Champion Chase looked a fascinating match between CHACUN POUR SOI and NUBE NEGRA who were third and second in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham with Ryanair Chase winner ALLAHO in the mix. In the end, though, it was a one-horse race with CHACUN POUR SOI back to his best on this slightly flatter track and easier ground. He comprehensively reversed Cheltenham places with NUBE NEGRA who was well held in third. ALLAHO tried to go with CHACUN POUR SOI but hit four out and wasn't good three out and that was him done for all he ran on well enough.
I suppose we could begin to suspect CHACUN POUR SOI simply doesn't like Cheltenham but this was a championship performance by any consideration. ALLAHO didn't run badly and back up over 4200m or further he'll no doubt be a player - I'd love him to run in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.
The 4800m champion novices chase had only four runners but this was also billed as a match - this time between MONKFISH and ENVOI ALLEN. However, this was one of those occasions when both favourites misfired. ENVOI ALLEN jumped okay but from four out Rachael Blackmore looked unhappy and the horse quickly lost ground approaching the straight and was pulled up lame.
This should have given MONKFISH the edge but COLREEVY, who we remember doing me a big favour on the final day at Cheltenham, continued her upward trajectory making every yard, She made a couple of serious errors notably at the last but MONKFISH was beaten by then and his effort looked laboured and had the sense of a horse who was done for the campaign. I'm not sure this race told us much - COLREEVY is yet another Mullins mare on the upgrade and connections may well feel ready to go into open company next season perhaps starting at Down Royal before Leopardstown at Christmas.