Stage Set For Tremendous Punchestown Festival Four superb days of racing are in prospect this week at the Irish National Hunt Festival, beginning tomorrow (Tuesday) at Punchestown with a string of star names set to line up to compete for the €2.1 million in prize money on offer. Tomorrow sees one of the greatest modern-day performers, Moscow Flyer, bidding to become the first horse ever to land the treble of Cheltenham´s Queen Mother Champion Chase, Aintree´s John Smith´s Melling Chase and the Grade 1 KERRYGOLD CHAMPION CHASE at Punchestown in the same season. Jessica Harrington´s star faces six rivals in tomorrow´s race, run at 3.10pm The Jonjo O´Neill-trained Quazar - who has twice won over hurdles at the Punchestown Festival - is one of eight in the Grade 2 ELLIER DEVELOPMENTS NOVICE CHASE (3.45pm) and bids to follow up on an impressive victory at Cheltenham earlier this month. The highly-regarded pair Publican and Wild Passion are among eight set to go to post in the Grade 1 EVENING HERALD CHAMPION HURDLE (2.35pm) while the €75,000 TOTE IRELAND 75TH ANNIVERSARY HANDICAP HURDLE (4.20pm) has attracted a maximum field of 25. Wednesday´s PUNCHESTOWN GUINNESS GOLD CUP (3.45pm) promises to be one of the highlights of the season featuring a clash between Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Kicking King, the Robert Alner-trained Kingscliff and Rule Supreme, who has not run over fences since winning the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February. The €100,000 Grade 1 PADDY POWER INH FLAT RACE (4.55pm) - the richest unrestricted bumper ever run in Europe - on Wednesday is set to feature a mouthwatering clash between Missed That, winner of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, and The Cool Guy, Nigel Twiston-Davies´s winner of Aintree´s championship National Hunt Flat Race. The concluding COX´S CASH & CARRY CHAMPION HUNTERS´ CHASE (6.05pm) is set to feature Katarino, winner of Aintree´s John Smith´s Fox Hunters´ Chase. The great mare Solerina, who has not raced over hurdles since February, is among those due to contest Thursday´s BALLYMORE PROPERTIES CHAMPION STAYERS´ HURDLE (4.20pm) while new sponsor Blue Square is offering a €50,000 bonus if Spot Thedifference wins the BLUE SQUARE CHASE FOR THE LA TOUCHE CUP (2.35pm) over Punchestown´s unique banks course again. The bonus was put up for any horse who wins Cheltenham´s Sporting Index Cross-Country Chase and the Blue Square Chase. The Grade 1 COLM MCEVOY AUCTIONEERS CHAMPION 4YO HURDLE (3.10pm) could see the Howard Johnson-trained Akilak have his first start since finishing third in Cheltenham´s JCB Triumph Hurdle with his opponents likely to include Lucy Wadham´s unbeaten mare United and the Michael O´Brien-trained Levitator, who made an impressive winning hurdling debut at Fairyhouse last month. The Grade 1 SWORDLESTOWN CUP NOVICE CHASE (3.45pm) is set to feature J P McManus´s Fota Island, a winner at both Cheltenham and Aintree this season, with the Mouse Morris-trained War Of Attrition another possible starter. Friday´s feature event is the Grade 1 EMO OIL CHAMPION HURDLE (3.10pm) in which Smurfit Champion Hurdle second Harchibald is due to reappear against rivals including the Cheltenham third and fourth, Brave Inca and Accordion Etoile, along with Grade 1 Aintree hurdle winner Al Eile. The €100,000 betfair.com NOVICE HANDICAP CHASE (3.45pm) is set to feature an intriguing clash between Numbersixvalverde and Joes Edge, respectively winners of the Irish and Scottish Grand Nationals, while the Grade 1 MENOLLY HOMES CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE (4.20pm) could see Aintree winner Asian Maze in action against the likes of Brewster and Royal Paradise. Despite the strength of Irish racing, over 30 different British and French trainers have horses declared at the five-day stage this week. These range from the big stables such as Martin Pipe, Nicky Henderson, Jonjo O´Neill, Howard Johnson, Philip Hobbs, Nigel Twiston-Davies and Venetia Williams to many smaller yards. Janet Williamson, PR Manager at Punchestown Racecourse, said today: 'Everything is in place for four excellent days of racing and we are delighted with the entries. As well as locally-trained stars such as Kicking King, Moscow Flyer and Harchibald we look forward to welcoming runners from a huge variety of overseas trainers. 'Advance sales for this year´s Festival have been excellent but tickets will be available for purchase on each of the four days.'
