Punchestown Festival: My Tent Or Yours looks terrific in Champion Hurdle
David Metcalf | April 28, 2016
My Tent Or Yours can collect in Punchestown Champion Hurdle
My Tent Or Yours has run two cracking races since returning to action and can gain a deserved Grade 1 success in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle on Friday (17:30).
The nine-year-old finished a fine second in the 2013 running of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, and also ran a blinder to finish runner-up to Jezki in the 2014 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
My Tent Or Yours was then on the sidelines for nearly two years after suffering an injury in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, but has looked as good as ever in finishing runner-up in two starts this season.
In the first of those, the son of Desert Prince was beaten just beaten 4 1/2 lengths by Annie Power in the Champion Hurdle at last months’ Cheltenham Festival.
Incredible effort which sets the standard
My Tent Or Yours travelled powerfully on the heels of the leaders and held every chance rounding the home turn before being unable to match the winners’ turn of foot and weakening late on.
It was an incredible effort after such a lengthy lay-off, and he backed it up with another solid second to Annie Power in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle over a 2m 4f trip which didn’t suit.
Those runs set the standard in this line-up and, with no Annie Power to contend with at the Punchestown Festival and the drop back to 2m a big plus, this looks a great opportunity for My Tent Or Yours to get back on the scoresheet.
Vroum Vroum Mag faces stiff task
Vroum Vroum Mag, who controversially pulled out of the Select Hurdle at Sandown last Saturday nine minutes before the race, is set to represent trainer Willie Mullins and powerful connections in Annie Power’s absence, so is the main threat to My Tent Or Yous according to the betting.
The mare has won six chases and three hurdle races since joining Mullins. In the last of those, Vroum Vroum Mag too the step up into Grade 1 company in her stride when landing the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Vroum Vroum Mag travelled well throughout before making smooth headway from the rear from home to take up the running approaching the last, but then had to be driven right out to the line to beat Rock The World by 2 3/4 lengths.
Some racing pundits felt Vroum Vroum Mag didn’t find as much as expected. The form of that race does not look strong, and she now faces a much stiffer task against the boys in a far classier contest.
Related
There’s more Punchestown Festival betting tips and race previews on our dedicated page.
Coral’s top tip: My Tent Or Yours has proven form at the highest level and rates a solid bet to gain a deserved Grade 1 success.
