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

Two of the leading novice hurdlers in Ireland are set to clash on the first day of the Punchestown festival when Ballymore winner Sir Gerhard takes on Dysart Dynamo in the Champion Novice Hurdle on Tuesday.

The Willie Mullins-trained pair head a field of five for the Bective Stud-sponsored contest (4.15), with Sir Gerhard dropping back in trip from his Cheltenham Festival success to 2m½f.

The Cheveley Park-owned seven-year-old is unbeaten over hurdles after Mullins chose to separate his two novice stars at Cheltenham by running Dysart Dynamo in the Supreme, where he fell three out.

That brought to an end to a flawless record for Eleanor Manning's novice, who had won all four of his previous starts under rules.

Mighty Potter, who was pulled up in the Supreme on his last start, is also declared for the opening Grade 1 of the meeting for Gordon Elliott, with stablemate Vina Ardanza and Gatsby Grey completing the line-up.

The William Hill Champion Chase (5.25) is the feature contest on Tuesday, with five declared in an all-Irish field that includes last season's winner Chacun Pour Soi.

The six-time Grade 1 winner unseated Patrick Mullins on his last start in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, which was won comfortably by the reopposing Energumene.

Champion Chase winner Energumene to once more face Chacun Pour SoiCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Paul Townend will retain the ride on Energumene, who won a Grade 1 novice chase at the meeting last year, while Cheltenham third Envoi Allen will be partnered by Rachael Blackmore.

Henry de Bromhead will also field Captain Guinness, with Grand Annual runner-up Andy Dufresne completing the field.

Tuesday's card will also feature the return of Bob Olinger for his first start since being gifted success in Turners' Novices' Chase. Galopin Des Champs was well clear of the De Bromhead-trained runner at Cheltenham, but fell at the final fence and left Bob Olinger unchallenged in victory.

The success extended the undefeated record of Rachael Blackmore's mount over fences ahead of his first start at the Punchestown festival. He missed last season's Champion Novice Hurdle after coughing.

He faces six rivals on his first start under rules at three miles in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (6.35) with Aintree winner Millers Bank the sole British runner in the race for trainer Alex Hales.

Gigginstown House Stud will be represented by Beacon Edge and Fury Road, who both ran in the Ladbrokes Stayers' Hurdle at the meeting last year, while Capodanno is the sole runner in the race for Mullins.

Fury Road: one of two Gigginstown runners to line up against Bob Olinger on TuesdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle (4.15)

1 Dysart DynamoPatrick Mullins
2 Gatsby GreyBarry Browne
3 Mighty PotterJack Kennedy
4 Sir Gerhard Paul Townend
5 Vina ArdanzaDavy Russell

William Hill Champion Chase (5.25)

1 Andy Dufresne Mark Walsh
2 Captain GuinnessDavy Russell
3 Chacun Pour Soi Patrick Mullins
4 EnergumenePaul Townend
5 Envoi Allen Rachael Blackmore

Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (6.35)

1 Beacon EdgeSean Flanagan
2 Bob OlingerRachael Blackmore
3 CapodannoMark Walsh
4 Fury RoadJack Kennedy
5 Lifetime AmbitionRobbie Power
6 Millers BankKielan Woods
7 Ballyshannon RoseBrian Hayes

Cards and betting for Punchestown on Tuesday

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