Willie Mullins' Punchestown squad All eyes may be on the race to be crowned champion trainer in Britain for a second year running, but don't be fooled into thinking Willie Mullins will not have his usual squad ready for Punchestown. The five-day Punchestown Festival from Tuesday April 29th to Saturday, May 3rd is the jewel at the end of Ireland's National Hunt season and Mullins has a stellar record at the Co Kildare showcase. We're taking a look at some of the guns Mullins may fire at Punchestown this time around. Punchestown Free Bet Offer If you already have a BoyleSports account, check out more of the best betting sites and casino bonuses Kopek Des Bordes Impressive and unbeaten so far in his career, Kopek Des Bordes justified all the hype that surrounded him to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival. He wasn't quite as electric as at the Dublin Racing Festival but he beat off some good horses in style and the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle on day one could be his next target. Fact To File So good in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, Fact To File was a surprise entry in the William Hill Champion Chase on day one, with a possible drop back to two miles seemingly in the offing for a contest Mullins has won a record eight times including five of the last six with the likes of Un De Sceaux, Chacun Pour Soi and Energumene. The last-named is also entered here, along with Il Etait Temps and Blood Destiny, and it will be interesting to see how Mullins plays his cards in the two-miler. Ballyburn The Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase adds to the sheer quality of day one and Ballyburn could reacquaint himself with Lecky Watson in this Grade 1 stayers' contest. Things unfolded poorly for Ballyburn in the Cotswolds and it was left to Lecky Watson to spring a shock in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at 20/1 for Sean O'Keefe. Patient tactics almost certainly didn't play to Ballyburn's strengths and he could be much more aggressively ridden come Punchestown. Jasmin De Vaux Jasmin De Vaux took a big step forward when winning the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham on his first go at the three-mile trip. He was ridden ice-cold by Paul Townend and fairly motored home for a clear-cut success over Henry De Bromhead's The Big Westerner in second. The Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle and the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle are both options for the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned runner back on home soil and given how he relished the trip, the former looks the likely target over three miles. Galopin Des Champs Galopin Des Champs surrendered his Gold Cup crown in Cheltenham as Inothewayurthinkin got the job done for Gavin Cromwell and in good style. It never appeared to be happening for the reigning champ in his hat-trick quest, with Townend admitting post-race he was never content. Will we see Galopin Des Champs one more time before the season ends? His record at Punchestown is anything but peerless, with just one win from five starts at this course over fences, and two defeats in this race. Most of the remaining Mullins entries (Gaelic Warrior, Nick Rockett and Grangeclare West) ran at Aintree, while this could be a left-field target for Il Etait Temps on his first run of the season, should he tackle it. It's looking increasingly likely that Galopin Des Champs might get the chance to make it third time lucky in this race. State Man Like Galopin Des Champs, State Man has to try and get back on track after heartache at Cheltenham. He had the Champion Hurdle at his mercy before crashing out at the final flight. The Boodles Punchestown Champion Hurdle awaits, where the likes of Lossiemouth, Brighterdaysahead and Constitution Hill — as well as Cheltenham winner Golden Ace — are all possible opponents.
