It will be very difficult for Irish Point to reverse the Champion Hurdle form with State Man in today's Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.
I don't think State Man ran his race in the day one feature at the Cheltenham Festival, even though he still won. He doesn't seem to travel for whatever reason and it seems like he's not as good in England as he is in Ireland.
He looks very good around Leopardstown and Punchestown and even though Irish Point could definitely give him a race of it, I can't see him reversing the form as I expect the favourite to be better here in the 6.00 than he was at Cheltenham.
I don't have much of a view on today's opener, but Gino Drummer Boy would be my selection for Gordon Elliott and Harry Swan, who recorded his first win at this meeting on Tuesday.
The EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase at 4.15 looks a strong enough race and there's plenty of them you could make a case for. Ten-year-old Tactical Move has been very good this season for the Mullins team, while Paul partners Mister Policeman, who looks set to go off favourite.
But I have an each-way fancy for Toss Again, who was a good winner of the Galway Blazers last August under Darragh O'Keefe, who is once again on board here. The drying ground will really suit him and he looks a good each-way bet.
Allegorie De Vassy looks the one to beat in the Mares Chase at 4.50. Brides Hill is a good mare as well, she's had a fantastic season for Gavin Cromwell and looks a big danger, but Allegorie De Vassy has the trip to suit here and should land a nice pot for Paul and Willie.
Its On The Line is obviously the one they all have to get past in the Champion Hunters' Chase at 5.25. He was second in the Hunters' Chase at Cheltenham before winning the Foxhunters' at Aintree.
However, I am going to go against him with a horse that I won on at the Punchestown Festival in 2021, when he beat Fastorslow by 12 lengths over hurdles for Jessica Harrington.
Lifetime Ambition was also second in a Grade 1 Novice Chase behind Capodanno at this meeting two years ago and I think he can run a big race for Pat Doyle, who now trains the nine-year-old.
For me, Ballyburn is one of the best novice hurdlers that I have seen for a long time and I'm looking forward to seeing him again in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle a 6.35.
We saw him over two miles at the Dublin Racing Festival before he won over two and a half in Cheltenham and he comes here again over that distance.
I just don't see anything in the race beating him. Mirazur West will go a good gallop in front and could be the one to give him most to do, but It will be very hard for any of them to get near Ballyburn in the closing stages.
And I'll side with Lark In The Mornin in the handicap novice hurdle at 7.05 for Joseph O'Brien and J J Slevin. He looked to win the Boodles at Cheltenham with any amount in hand and he could be open to more improvement, while Masterboy Davis is my selection in the last at 7.40 for that team of Gordon Elliott and Harry Swan.
Bet of the day - Lark in In The Mornin 7.05
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