High Class performance at Punchestown books Cheltenham ticket

High Class Hero is likely to take on stablemates Ballyburn and Dancing City at next month’s Cheltenham Festival after breaking his duck over fences at Punchestown.

Ballyburn is the hot favourite for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase in the Cotswolds next month, with Dancing City rated his biggest threat by bookmakers.

High Class Hero won four of his six starts over hurdles and proved himself capable of mixing it at Grade One level when pushing Dancing City close at the Punchestown Festival last spring.

The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old was beaten by Shannon Royale on his chasing debut at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve, but the 8-15 market leader made no mistake at the second attempt, seeing off the persistent challenge of another Mullins runner in Loughglynn by two and three-quarter lengths.

Coral cut High Class Hero’s Brown Advisory odds to 25-1 from 33-1, and Mullins confirmed his likely participation at Prestbury Park in less than three weeks’ time.

“He did it nicely. The ground was quite testing as they had a lot of rain before racing,” said the champion trainer.

“He’s in the Brown Advisory. He would look that type of an animal and we’ll probably head in that direction.

“The other fella (Loughglynn) will probably stay at home and we’ll find something for him.”

Springt De La Mare (9-2) made it two from two over fences for Gavin Cromwell in the Concept Colours Rated Novice Chase, scoring by three lengths in the hands of Keith Donoghue.

“He jumped really well and it was a good performance,” said Cromwell.

“I was just saying to Keith there that we couldn’t win a maiden hurdle with him, but he’s taken to this better. He jumps really well and got through that ground well.

“The handicapper will have a bit of a say with that. He doesn’t qualify for some of the bigger handicaps yet, with only two runs, so I’m not really sure where we go now.”