punchestown 25th Apr

Day two of the Punchestown Festival boasts three Grade One contests, the highlight of which is Follow The Plan's bid to retain his crown in thetote.com Punchestown Gold Cup.

Oliver McKiernan's charge bounced back to form with an authoritative win at Aintree recently, but he prefers better ground, which could leave him vulnerable to Rubi Light.

Robbie Hennessy's chaser loves it when the mud is flying and though beaten on his previous attempt at this trip, the form of that second to the ill-fated Synchronised has been well advertised since.

Willie Mullins is triple-handed in the Irish Daily Mirror War Of Attrition Novice Hurdle, with Ruby Walsh opting to ride Cheltenham fifth Sous Les Cieux, who sports blinkers for the first time.

The return to testing conditions could help Ipsos Du Berlais, though, and with Jetson having shown a liking for stamina tests and My Murphy appearing on the back of a good win at Tipperary, an open contest is in the offing.

The final top-level contest is the betchronicle.com Champion INH Flat Race, in which Champagne Fever bids to follow up his Cheltenham Festival victory.

New Year's Eve was second at Prestbury Park and meets his conqueror on 2lb better terms, while Summer Star represents the Walsh family, with father Ted and daughter Katie combining for two wins in three starts on the Flat-bred filly.

Tranquil Sea bids to give lumps of weight away in the Guinness Handicap Chase.

Edward O'Grady's charge is always feared over this trip, though the Ballynonty handler has booked Tony McCoy to ride his stablemate Osana.

A huge field for the Martinstown Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle gets the meeting under way at 3.40, with Declan Bates and Patrick Mangan, challenging for honours in the conditional jockeys' title race, aboard King Of The Refs and Ten Bob respectively.