Which British runners are taking the challenge to the Irish at Punchestown?

It was Ireland 23-5 Britain at the Cheltenham Festival, and then the Irish runners dominated the Grand National won by Minella Times at Aintree.

However, that has not stopped a few brave souls among the British training ranks from sending some Grade 1 contenders over to the season-ending festival at Punchestown.

We run through the best of the British runners set to compete at next week's meeting.

Nube Negra and William Hill Champion Chase, 5.25 Tuesday

Dan Skelton is never one to shy away from a challenge and Nube Negra, who had an end-of-season alternative at Sandown, is set to run in Ireland for the first time as he bids for a first Grade 1 win.

The seven-year-old conquered Altior at Christmas and went ever so close in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham, sticking on down the outside and finishing just half a length behind Put The Kettle On in second.

Nube Negra (left) went close to winning the Champion Chase at CheltenhamCredit: Tim Goode (Getty Images)

Stepping into away territory may prove an even greater task, particularly with Chacun Pour Soi and Allaho among the likely opposition, but the Skelton team have been hotter than most this spring and it should be a race to relish.

First Flow has won at the highest level, beating Politologue in the Clarence House Chase in January, and gives the British team another contender in the race, with the right-handed configuration likely to suit Kim Bailey's runner.

'We're not frightened of anyone' – Skelton's Nube Negra to tackle Mullins stars

Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup, 5.55 Wednesday

Unlike most on this list Clan Des Obeaux was not beaten by the Irish raiders at the Cheltenham Festival, with Paul Nicholls electing to skip the meeting with the dual King George winner.

It was a decision that looked to pay off in style at Aintree this month as a fresh Clan Des Obeaux left his rivals trailing in the distance in the Betway Bowl, running out an easy 26-length winner.

Clan Des Obeaux: an emphatic winner of the Grade 1 Betway Bowl at AintreeCredit: Edward Whitaker

While Britain's champion trainer toyed with the idea of running off topweight in Sandown's bet365 Gold Cup, he instead made the call to supplement the nine-year-old for the Punchestown Gold Cup and take on the likes of Minella Indo and Al Boum Photo.

Speaking in the week, Nicholls, who won this race with Neptune Collonges in 2007 and 2008, said: "I’ve always thought Punchestown would suit him and the weather is nice, whereas Sandown would have been a bit of an unknown with him. We [with owners Ged Mason, Sir Alex Ferguson and Paul Barber] made a unanimous decision to go which is exciting."

Clan Des Obeaux to tackle Ireland's finest as Nicholls opts for Punchestown

Lisnagar Oscar and Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle, 5.25 Thursday

Three of the last four runnings of this race have gone to British-trained contenders, although Lisnagar Oscar will need to bounce back from a fall at Cheltenham and disappointing eighth at Aintree.

However, the 2020 Stayers' Hurdle winner is a classy contender on his day and his trainer Rebecca Curtis has had a winner at Punchestown before.

Agrapart has much more to find on recent form with the likes of Flooring Porter and Sire Du Berlais, but he does at least come into Punchestown off the back of a win at Kelso for trainer Jane Williams.

Epatante, Goshen, Buveur D'Air andSilver Streak
Paddy Power Champion Hurdle, 5.25 Friday

Nicky Henderson and Gary Moore had already stated their intention to take on Honeysuckle and co before Paddy Power announced they would offer a £100,000 bonus for any British trainer who went over to Punchestown and won the race they sponsor.

However, it certainly provides an extra talking point should Epatante, Goshen, Silver Streak or Buveur D'Air come home in front.

Buveur D'Air won the Champion Hurdle at Punchestown two years agoCredit: Patrick McCann

Epatante ran respectably when trying to defend her Champion Hurdle crown at Cheltenham, finishing third, with Silver Streak sixth, while a nightmare run for Goshen caused Gary Moore to suggest his star hurdler may not return to Prestbury Park. A return to a track with a right-handed configuration may suit.

Buveur D'Air won the last running of this race in 2019 but is now aged 11, although his Aintree Hurdle fourth behind Abacadabras was full of promise.

Read more ahead of the Punchestown Festival

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