Punchestown Champion Chase - 17:25 Tuesday

Punchestown Champion Chase 2023 Runners

Energumene

Energumene ran out a facile winner of this contest last year and demonstrated he remains at the peak of his powers when cruising to a second successive victory in the Champion Chase last month. 

There were questions to answer heading into that race after an uncharacteristically disappointing showing in the rescheduled Clarence House Chase. However, he jumped and travelled well throughout the race and the only question in the closing stages was how far he would win by.

It’s hard to find a chink in his armour when in that kind of form and he has won Grade 1 races (over this course and distance) at this meeting in both 2021 and 2022. 

He should prove hard to beat.

Gentleman De Mee

Gentleman De Mee defeated subsequent Tingle Creek Chase winner Edwardstone in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree last spring and he looked better than ever when defeating stablemate Blue Lord in the Grade 1 company at the Dublin Racing Festival. 

The JP McManus owned seven-year-old looked to be a Cheltenham Champion Chase contender judged on that performance. However, he picked up an infection in the build-up to the race and was forced to bypass the meeting.

He boasts an official rating that puts him firmly in the mix and connections will hope that he can gain compensation in this contest.

Blue Lord

Blue Lord landed a Grade 1 novice chase (over this course at distance) at this meeting 12 months ago and he will look to bounce back from a disappointing showing in the Ryanair Chase.

It’s possible that two-and-a-half-miles on Cheltenham’s new course stretched his stamina and he arguably posted a career best effort when beating subsequent Champion Chase runner-up Captain Guinness by 11 lengths at Leopardstown in December.

However, he was turned over by stablemate Gentleman De Mee when sent off a 1/4 favourite at the Dublin Racing Festival and his inconsistency makes him hard to assess.

Magic Daze

Magic Daze successfully conceded 4lbs to subsequent Fairyhouse scorer Dinoblue (who would arguably have won the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival but for a bad mistake at the final fence) when triumphing by three-and-three-quarter-lengths at Naas in February.

Henry de Bromhead’s front-running mare refused to race in the Mares' Chase and was therefore spared what would have been a touch race. She could easily run respectably in receipt of 7lbs. 

Rebel Gold

Rebel Gold has been in fine form this calendar year winning two of his three starts including the Grade 3 Newlands Chase at Naas in February.

The 10-year-old hasn’t been seen since that success and it’s possible that connections have been waiting for this contest.

Rebel Gold will be fresher than many of his rivals and is clearly in a good place at present. He could therefore outperform market expectations.

Chacun Pour Soi

Chacun Pour Soi won this race in 2021 and placed second behind stablemate Energumene 12 months ago. Rich Ricci’s 11-year-old hasn’t looked the force of old this year and he failed to beat a single rival him in the Ryanair. 

He was subsequently beaten in Grade 3 company at Cork and he would need to bounce back to his very best in order to feature prominently in this race.

Punchestown Champion Chase 2023 Tips & Prediction

We are yet to truly discover what Gentleman De Mee’s limitations are and he rates a fascinating contender on all known form.

Willie Mullins’ charge was impressive when beating the classy Edwardstone at Aintree last spring and he looked like a true Grade 1 performer when comfortably accounting for Blue Lord in February.

However, it’s hard to oppose dual Champion Chase hero ENERGUMENE given both the impressive nature of his victory last month and his record at this meeting.

The high-class nine-year-old seems almost unbeatable when at the peak of his powers and is upwards of 9lbs clear of his rivals on official ratings.