One trainer, one jockey, one horse and one race to watch at Punchestown

Trainer

Willie Mullins dominated at the Cheltenham Festival with ten winners and holds a typically strong hand on the first day of the Punchestown festival, including Ballymore winner Sir Gerhard and Dysart Dynamo, who will both run in the Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle (4.15 Tuesday).

The trainer later turns to Energumene, who is odds-on favourite for William Hill Champion Chase (5.25 Tuesday) after winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last month. He is joined in a quality line-up by his stablemate Chacun Pour Soi, who won this last year.

Mullins will run a number of his Cheltenham winners at the festival, including emphatic Ryanair winner Allaho in the Punchestown Gold Cup (5.55 Wednesday) and Facile Vega (6.30 Wednesday), who remains unbeaten after three starts under amateur Patrick Mullins.

Willie Mullins big guns set for explosive clashes on day one at Punchestown

Jockey

Rachael Blackmore dominated the headlines at the Cheltenham Festival and has a number of leading chances of stealing the show at Punchestown.

The week will build towards Friday's appearance at the meeting for Honeysuckle, who will seek a 16th consecutive success in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle (5.25 Friday).

Bob Olinger was a fortuitous Cheltenham winner after the fall of Galopin Des ChampsCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Bob Olinger is the obvious star name on day one as he looks to defend his unbeaten record over fences in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (6.35 Tuesday). His mighty reputation took a knock when well behind eventual final-fence faller Galopin Des Champs at Cheltenham last time and, while he ended up a fortuitous winner, he bids to re-establish his place as one of Ireland's most exciting prospects.

Blackmore is also back on board Envoi Allen, looking to upset a Willie Mullins-dominated William Hill Champion Chase (5.25 Tuesday), while Journey With Me is a live contender in the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (5.20 Wednesday).

Horse

Honeysuckle will be sent off as an odds-on favourite as she bids to extend her unbeaten record to 16 in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle (5.25 Friday) for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore.

Honeysuckle: the brilliant mare has won ten Grade 1s in a rowCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Her task may have been made easier by Nicky Henderson's decision not to run Supreme winner Constitution Hill in the Grade 1, but there are still dangers in the field as she bids to win it for the second year in a row.

Among the entries are the Champion Hurdle runner-up Epatante, who bounced back to win the Aintree Hurdle last time, and Zanahiyr, who finished third behind that pair at Cheltenham.

Race

The Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (5.55 Wednesday) has all the ingredients of an instant classic as Clan Des Obeaux bids to defend his crown against a host of Ireland's best staying chasers.

Allaho, a dominant winner of the last two Ryanair Chases at Cheltenham, steps up to three miles for the first time since finishing a well-beaten fourth in the Savills Chase in 2020. He has gone toe-to-toe with Minella Indo on several occasions over this trip in the past and that rival is again in opposition as he bids for his first victory since landing last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup.

A field with few weak links also includes Galvin, dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo, King George hero Tornado Flyer and four-time Grade 1 winner Fakir D'Oudairies.

Confirmed runners and riders for the Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday

Read more on the Punchestown festival:

'It's Chacun's track' – Patrick Mullins excited about Energumene rematch

Big-race fancies: who our tipsters expect to triumph at Punchestown

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