Henry de Bromhead's Punchestown Team

The final roll of the National Hunt dice for this season takes place at Punchestown as April rolls into May and Flat racing gets ready to assert for the summer.

The Punchestown Festival runs from Tuesday April 29th — Saturday May 3rd and top trainer Henry De Bromhead will be hoping to figure on the scoresheet.

We're looking at some of the possible contenders from his Knockeen base bound for Co Kildare next week.

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Workahead - The KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle (Tuesday April 29th)

Workahead was one of the best-supported horses in the market for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last month but the son of Derby winner Workforce was keen from flagfall, didn't jump with enough fluency towards the head of affairs and was one of the first horses beaten.

He came home in his own time under Rachael Blackmore and should have learned something from his trip to the Cotswolds. He'll have the spectre of Kopek Des Bordes hanging over him again here but his Irish maiden hurdle form is strong, and there could be a bigger effort in him.

Slade Steel - The Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Steeplechase (Tuesday April 29th)

There could be a Grade 1 outing on day one for Slade Steel too. The Robcour inmate was of course the winner of the Supreme last season but is yet to oblige since going novice chasing.

He's only had two chances and there was no shame in finishing second to Better Days Ahead at Navan or Lecky Watson at Naas before Christmas. The latter went ahead and won the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase over three-miles at Cheltenham.

It's very early days for Slade Steel in this discipline and it remains to be seen if this potential step up in trip to three-miles will be an aid for him.

Forty Coats - Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle (Wednesday April 30th)

Owner Chris Jones is a long-time supporter of the De Bromhead operation and he saw Forty Coats run a blinder at Cheltenham last month. The 150/1 chance tackled the Grade 1 Turners Novices' Hurdle and finished an admirable fourth behind the likes of The New Lion, The Yellow Clay and Final Demand.

Given that he was 0-3 in maiden hurdles on home soil previously, that was a very marked step up on the formbook.

He's got an entry in this three-mile contest as well as the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle over shorter on the Friday. His winning point-to-point effort at three-miles gives rise to the idea this could be the race for him.

Monty's Star Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Wednesday April 30th)

Fourth spot in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup was a solid effort from Monty's Star and the Barry Moloney-owned eight-year-old is a veteran of just seven runs over fences, ensuring he has plenty time for better in this sphere.

Blue Riband winner Inothewayurthinkin won't be at Punchestown and Galopin Des Champs has been more vulnerable here than anywhere else, so there's every reason for connections to roll the dice with €180,000 on offer in the feature race.

Bob Olinger - Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Thursday May 1st)

Bob Olinger flew up the Cheltenham hill last month to thwart Teahupoo in the Stayers' Hurdle, downing Gordon Elliott's charge in the same Robcour silks as he extended his love-affair with the Cotswolds venue.

A rematch could be in the offing at Punchestown in the Champion Stayers' Hurdle, where De Bromhead could also fire Hiddenvalley Lake into the mix after his Aintree win.

July Flower - The SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Saturday May 3rd)

Willie Mullins dominates the entries for the Mares Champion Hurdle but De Bromhead's July Flower could be set for a big run. She was no match for Lossiemouth at Cheltenham but that rival is unlikely to feature here.

July Flower has only had a couple of runs since arriving from France and there is still plenty upside with her. She has the option of this intermediate Grade 1 against her own sex as well as the Champion Stayers Hurdle 48 hours earlier.