Kitzbuhel won the Brown Advisory Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival under Harry Cobden for Willie Mullins. He is now 3-from-4 over fences and heads to Punchestown's Champion Novice Chase at 16:50 today as the 5/4 market leader. Willie Mullins has won three of the last five renewals of this race.
The Brown Advisory Win
Cheltenham Festival. Brown Advisory Novices Chase. Kitzbuhel made all the running under Harry Cobden and held on by three-quarters of a length from stablemate Final Demand. The William Hill preview is direct: "the grey gelding made all the running in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival to hold off stablemate Final Demand by three-quarters of a length. If he continues in the same vein at Punchestown then he is going to take some stopping."
He is also 2-from-2 at Punchestown — the course record that gives Mullins specific confidence in sending him back here rather than resting him for next season.
The Short Price Question
Kitzbuhel is 5/4 — a short price for a novice chaser taking on this race at the end of a long season. The horseracing.net preview raises this concern directly: "he is very short for a horse who has had a long season and was battling for every inch at Cheltenham." The freshness question is real — by the time Kitzbuhel runs at Punchestown, he will have had a hard Cheltenham campaign within the preceding six weeks.
The counterargument: he is 2-from-2 at this track and Mullins specifically chose Harry Cobden to retain the ride, confirming stable confidence that the horse is ready and competitive.
The Opposition
Oscars Brother (Noel Meade) — unseated in the Grand National at the Chair last Saturday and is an interesting inclusion. A horse returning to form after a dramatic exit can show renewed competitive spirit. The horseracing.net analysis describes him as "the one that can give most to think about."
Predators Gold fell last time at Fairyhouse, and the step up in trip is noted as an unknown. Kappa Jy Pike won at the Curragh — course winner with Punchestown form.
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Facts verified via web search April 28 2026. Sources: William Hill News, Horseracing.net Day 1 tips.