Champion Hurdler Punjabi can stun rivals again, says Geraghty

KAUTO Star is odds on to keep his Gold Cup crown, Master Minded is seen as a banker to repeat his Queen Mother Champion Chase triumph, Big Buck's is viewed by some as unbeatable in the World Hurdle, but for the Cheltenham Festival's 'other' reigning champion, Punjabi, the hype surrounding his title defence has been conspicuous by its absence.

But don't let that fool you into thinking the surprise winner of the 2009 Champion Hurdle can't turn up at 3.20 this afternoon and repeat his heroics up the Prestbury Park hill. Jockey Barry Geraghty certainly thinks he can, and at a morning price of around 7-1 he rates a great bet for punters who believe in 'horses for courses'.

Geraghty believes Punjabi, below, has been seriously underestimated ahead of his bid for back-to-back victories in the Smurfit Kappa-sponsored feature race on the opening day of the festival.

The Irish jockey felt he could not desert Raymond Tooth's gelding for stablemate Zaynar – who, by contrast, has been one of the most over-hyped horses in the build-up, despite defeat at odds of 1-14 at Kelso – and reports the seven-year-old Punjabi to be in tip-top form.

"There is no way I could desert Punjabi when you consider what he's achieved and more important – how he is right now," Geraghty said in his latest blog on www.attheraces.com. "He looks well, feels well and just seems to be telling you that this is his time of year. I was going through the race again on Monday morning and whichever way you look at it, he's going to be bang there.

"He'll come up that hill and knows what it takes to win and I'm beginning to think he's been an undervalued Champion Hurdler. He has a real big chance.

"As for the opposition, you couldn't have any confidence in Solwhit after his problems. I still see Go Native as my biggest threat – especially now that the ground is drying which will really suit him. And with 12 runners there shouldn't be any traffic problems.

"Khyber Kim comes right into it as an improving horse and, as you know, it wasn't easy for me to desert Zaynar.

"He'll be right there but stamina is his strength and the Champion Hurdle is run on a much sharper course than the Triumph on Friday."

Nicky Henderson has a powerful hand as he also saddles Zaynar, who has since atoned for his flop at Kelso, and last year's third, Binocular.

"Punjabi might lack sex appeal, but he has won the race before and wears a crown that says Champion Hurdle on it," said the Seven Barrows trainer. "Zaynar was beaten at 1-14 at Kelso but he hated the ground that day and was in need of the run.

"It wasn't an ideal preparation, but I am glad we ran him and I have been happy with him at home since."

Binocular was touched off by a neck and a head from Punjabi and Celestial Halo 12 months ago and is back in the frame after being virtually ruled out last month following an opening run of lacklustre efforts this season.

"We have had a funny time with Binocular. I said he wasn't going to run and he went on his travels, but is back now and the key to him is his hurdling," explained Henderson. "He won easily at Sandown the last time, but everyone knew that both AP (McCoy) and I were not happy with him as his jumping was all wrong.

"He schooled 12 hurdles last Wednesday and he looked like the old Binocular, he was very, very quick – like an Olympic athlete."

The Paul Nicholls-trained Celestial Halo is back to improve on his narrow defeat but owner Andy Stewart is not expecting fireworks.

He said: "I think you can put a line through last year's one-two-three as they have not really franked the form since.

"Go Native sets the standard and he is the one we have all got to beat."

Noel Meade and his team could be forgiven if they were a little more nervous than usual ahead of Go Native's bid for glory.

As well as statistics being against them – no horse has won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and Champion Hurdle in consecutive years since Bula in 1970-71 – there is an extra 1 million bonus on the line.

"Everything is good, the horse travelled great, he's in great order and I couldn't be happier with him," said the Navan trainer. "It's all systems go. He looked great this morning, he had a little breeze out on the track and he was nice and fresh.

"His last piece of work was pretty good all right, we were very happy with it."

Medermit has been a surprise package this season and lowered the colours of Punjabi at Haydock.

"Everything has gone well, just as we wished, he's in good order and I'm looking forward to it," said trainer Alan King. "The handicapper is saying he has improved with each run because each time he has raised him. It puts him well in the mix and I don't think there is an outstanding horse among them.

"There are several very good horses though and I think we are in for a very exciting Champion Hurdle, there is only a few pounds between the top eight or nine.

Khyber Kim is reported to be in tremendous form as he bids to land a 200,000 bonus for his connections after taking the Boylesports International Hurdle.

"He's absolutely great and I couldn't be happier with him," trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said. "All the others seems to have had small problems but he hasn't and he's in great nick. We toyed with the idea of going to Newbury for the big Tote race but we've brought him here nice and fresh and as well as we can ever imagine."

Better Cheltenham betting propositions lie ahead later in the week, but other suggested bets today are an each-way interest in the opener on Henderson's Oscar Whisky, with favourite Dunguib too short at 4-5 to be lumping on; Sizing Europe in the Arkle; and Enda Bolger's Garde Champetre to again excel in the peculiar cross-country Glenfarclas Handicap Chase.

In the 'lucky last', Colm Murphy's Voler La Vedette is strongly fancied to justify her favourite's tag in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle.