'Finalising Cheltenham Preparations' - Key connections to follow this weekend in Ireland

The weather has had an adverse impact on the racing action in Ireland this week, with Clonmel's Thursday card being abandoned due to waterlogging. Hopefully, we have a couple of intriguing National Hunt fixtures to look forward to this weekend.

Gowran's feature race on Saturday's card is the Grade 2 Red Mills Chase, for which a field of four has been declared and Impaire Et Passe makes his seasonal return, and there's a Grand National trial on offer at Punchestown on Sunday.

All the big owners, trainers and jockeys will be represented, so we've selected some of the important names to keep an eye on across Ireland this weekend.

He can be a little enigmatic at times, but when on a going day, there's a good engine under the hood and an abundance of talent.

Enda McElhinney on Impaire Et Passe

Mullins and Twomey lead trainer interests

Willie Mullins will be finalising his Cheltenham Festival preparations over the next few weeks and he will be represented by 10 runners at Gowran on Saturday.

He runs three in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle, the most interesting of which is the unexposed Kawaboomga This horse beat the Supreme runner-up in a maiden hurdle last term and hasn't been seen since. Paul Townend rides Storm Heart who shouldn't be dismissed either.

Two of the four entries for the feature race of the day also come from Closutton and Impaire Et Passe is the star name on show. He won a Grade 1 novice at Aintree in the spring and hasn't been seen since being brought down at Punchestown.

Paddy Twomey is one of Ireland's best Flat trainers and has only had one previous jumps runner so far this season. It could then be interesting that he's set to have his second when Triumph Hurdle entry Arouet makes his hurdling debut in the card's opening maiden.

Jockey Title Race: Kennedy nears a century

Jack Kennedy is now pulling away from longtime championship leader Darragh O'Keeffe and currently holds a comfortable lead of 11 successes. Just eight away from the 100-winner mark, Kennedy will be keen to get closer with a couple more winners at Gowran.

Gordon Elliott's Bally Free looks like the one to beat in the Grade 3 Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at 13:55, as he improved from his stable debut to win a three-mile maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in December and the best is surely yet to come.

Ballybow's hurdles form gives him every chance in the penultimate race on the card, a beginners' chase over an extended 2m3f. His three runs over fences haven't been good, but don't rule him out, as he's capable of much better.

JP McManus' retained rider Mark Walsh has just the one ride at Gowran on Saturday, but it could be a good one. Kawaboomga makes his belated seasonal reappearance and there could be any amount of improvement to come from him.

Owners: Stars return for Souede and Munir

It could be an exciting weekend for Isaac Souede and Simon Munir, as their very talented chaser Impaire Et Passe makes his first start since the Punchestown Festival in May.

A very impressive winner of a Cheltenham novice hurdle in 2023, there could be more to come over fences. He can be a little enigmatic at times, but when on a going day, there's a good engine under the hood and an abundance of talent.

Gigginstown have a few runners at Gowran on Saturday and Storm Heart could be the most intriguing of those, after winning well at Limerick last time out. Rich Ricci's Madness d'Elle looked in need of the run when second last time and should step forward here.