Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle
Grade 1, Punchestown 16:15 €125,000 guaranteed, 4yo, 2m7f180y, Class 1
Tweet Wednesday 29th April 2026

This race is rarely short on depth, but the 2026 renewal at Punchestown Racecourse has the feel of a race where strength in numbers meets strength in quality.

As is often the case with these late-season novice events, the Mullins battalion looms large, and it is difficult to ignore the collective strength of runners such as Doctor Steinberg, Bon Viveur, Espresso Milan, Love Me Tender, Sober, Sortudo and Laurets d’Estruval.

What a finish! 🔥

Doctor Steinberg storms home to win the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle for Willie Mullins with Paul Townend in the saddle! 🙌pic.twitter.com/iHpDehMzo8

— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) February 2, 2026

Of that group, Doctor Steinberg arguably sets the standard on peak form, his figures suggesting a level of ability that would make him a leading player if reproducing his best. However, his profile is not without blemish, and there remains a slight question as to which version turns up.

Bon Viveur appeals as a more straightforward type, one who has progressed steadily and arrives here with momentum, while Love Me Tender brings consistency at a high level and could be well suited by a strongly-run race. Sober, already a course winner, adds a layer of proven effectiveness at Punchestown, something that can often prove decisive in these large-field contests.

Beyond Closutton, Johnny’s Jury stands out as a particularly interesting challenger. His progression has been notable, and there was little to fault in his profile prior to his latest run. If bouncing back, he has the ratings to mix it with the very best of these.

Wins with ease! 😮

Zeus Power sees them off in the Oddschecker Sefton Novices' Hurdle 🥇#ITVRacing | @JosephOBrien2 pic.twitter.com/2SefRIzMvL

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 10, 2026

Zeus Power is another who commands attention, his upward trajectory matched by solid figures that suggest he is still improving. In a race where timing the peak is everything, he could be arriving here at precisely the right moment.

From the Elliott camp, the challenge is spearheaded by Kazansky, Jalon d’Oudairies, Spinningayarn, Generous Risk and Riskaway, with Kazansky perhaps the most compelling on his best efforts. His ability to travel strongly through his races gives him a platform, though he will need to see it out thoroughly in what promises to be a searching test.

Fruit De Mer and The Passing Wife bring solid graded-level form into the race and look the type to run their races once more, while No Drama This End adds a British dimension and arrives with figures that suggest he is not far off the required standard.

Further down, The Big Clubman, Mondoui’boy, Ubatuba and Saint Baco all have pieces of form that give them a squeak, particularly if the race becomes attritional, while I Started A Joke offers consistency and track experience, both valuable commodities in a field of this size.

Tactically, this is likely to be run at a strong tempo, with such a large field ensuring no hiding place. Positioning will be key, as will the ability to travel and jump fluently under pressure. Those who can conserve energy early before quickening off the final bend often come to the fore.

In that context, the balance between proven class and latent potential becomes crucial. Doctor Steinberg may possess the highest ceiling, but Bon Viveur and Love Me Tender bring reliability, while Johnny’s Jury and Zeus Power represent the upwardly mobile brigade capable of taking another step forward. As ever at Punchestown, it may not simply be about who is best, but who is best on the day.

Channor Group Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
€125,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m7f180y, Class 1
32 entries
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