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My Tent Or yours to pitch up at Punchestown Festival

Trainer Nicky Henderson proudly stands with My Tent or Yours ahead of the Cheltenham Festival in March, during a stable visit to Nicky Henderson's stables
Image: Trainer Nicky Henderson proudly stands with My Tent or Yours

My Tent Or Yours has been given the green light by Nicky Henderson to contest the BETDAQ Punchestown Champion Hurdle on April 28.

The veteran finished fourth in the Aintree Hurdle last week on just his second start of the season on ground that would have been softer than ideal.

"I think My Tent Or Yours is a definite for Punchestown," said Henderson.

"I thought that he ran really well at Aintree on Thursday and he didn't go to Cheltenham, so we'll have another go at the Champion Hurdle. We might also bring Charli Parcs over for the same race.

"We've got one or two others on the shortlist for Punchestown and I think the ground could be the best of any of the Festivals. It's a terrific week and we've had some wonderful days there over the years."

Colin Tizzard is set to take a strong team, headlined by Cheltenham Festival winner Kilbricken Storm and Aintree hero Finian's Oscar.

"We are taking Kilbricken Storm to Punchestown for the novice race, the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle," said Tizzard.

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"We've always had a little trouble with his feet. We had a run-in with them going into Cheltenham, then he came right, then he had trouble straight afterwards. But that was only for a week and he's been in full work since then so he'll be fine for Punchestown.

"I think he had the run of the race at Cheltenham because a couple in front went too fast and the second and the third were sat too far back. Harry (Cobden) was sat right in the pocket and we had a hell of an advantage. But having said that, Kilbricken Storm is a really good horse and we'll find out how just good he is in Punchestown."

Finian's Oscar was just touched off at Punchestown last season but after a mixed campaign, he bounced back to his best last week and is a possible for the Growise Champion Novice Chase.

"We'll just keep an eye on how he's come out of Aintree but he should be fine to go to Punchestown," said Tizzard.

"He's a good horse and it's only 18 months ago that all he'd done was to have won one point-to-point, so he's done a hell of a lot in a short space of time.

"Robbie (Power) looked after him on the first circuit at Aintree, he made two bad mistakes when he started picking the pace up but he's going to be a three-miler."

Sizing Granite is in the mix for the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup while Sizing Codelco and Shanahan's Turn are others likely to make the trip.

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