Race by race preview for day one of the Punchestown Festival.

No doubt it won't be the same for him or indeed many others without John Thomas McNamara's involvement but Enda Bolger could well help get punters off to a good start with NEAR PERFECTION. Of course Bolger has to do without Nina Carberry too but he has fine deputies on his team with the likes of Kevin Power on the selection, Katie Walsh on Keep On Track and Derek O'Connor on Mount Sion. Indeed some may perceive Zest For Life as the fourth in from Bolger's Bruree outfit but it should be noted that he won this race in 2010 and he showed up well at Cork last time behind Mossey Joe for today's rider, Tim Donworth. Anyway, before a bit of a 'wobble' in his form in recent times, you'd be investing in Near Perfection here with more than a bit of confidence. As it is he is still only an eight-year-old, he has plenty of time still to fulfil earlier promise and it's entirely possible that he'll enjoy the test that this course represents on his first public appearance over the banks. (EM)

After finishing first and third in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, JEZKI can gain revenge on Champagne Fever by claiming this contest. The Jessica Harrington trained gelding beat Champagne Fever in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse in December on soft ground and with conditions set to be testing, this should suit the Barry Geraghty ridden son of Milan. He finished just two and three parts of a length behind Champagne Fever at Cheltenham and he would have been even closer only for a slow jump at the last. Rule The World is perhaps the biggest danger to the selection. He is a high class horse and finished just four lengths second to The New One at Cheltenham last month with many peoples Festival banker, Pont Alexandre, a further four and a half lengths back in third. He won his maiden hurdle with ease over the course and distance last October and dropped back to the minimum trip he can be expected to go close. County Hurdle winner Ted Veale, Art Of Logistics and Mallowney make up the field and it would come as a surprise if any of them troubled the aforementioned trio. (DM)

Competitive contest and a chance is taken on the Jerry Cosgrave trained MOUNT COLAH. The son of Beneficial won at Navan on his penultimate start and was in the process of running another big race at Fairyhouse last time out only for a bad mistake at the final flight put pay to his chance. His jockey, Noel McParlan, will take a valuable seven pounds off and carrying a handy weight of ten stone, four pounds he looks the one to side with. Tennis Cap is sure to be popular among punters with Ruby Walsh in the saddle but he was disappointing at Fairyhouse last time out and it looked as if the six-year-old gelding could do with a break. Snap Tie won this race last year and with his rider taking seven pounds off another bold bid can be expected while Sizing Machine and Tasitiocht are two others with solid each-way claims. (DM)

It is hard to envisage anything other than a win for the star of day one at Punchestown, SPRINTER SACRE. Nicky Henderson's gelding is nine from nine over fences and he has yet to come off the bridle over the larger obstacles. He won with ease at Cheltenham and Aintree and he looks set to complete a big Festival hat-trick by rounding off his season here. He showed his versatility in terms of ground at Cheltenham in January when winning on heavy so the likely testing conditions at Punchestown shouldn't be of concern. Last year's winner Sizing Europe was beaten nineteen lengths by the selection at Cheltenham last month and there is no reason he should reverse the form. However he is a clear second best while Foildubh, Days Hotel and Noble Prince will be fighting it out for third place prize money. (DM)

Of course there could be a potential champion lurking here but at this stage the safest choice is MOYLE PARK. With David 'Harry' Kelly at the time, Moyle Park was well-touted before delivering in style at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day. He then grabbed the headlines at Cheltenham's Brightwells' January Sale when selling to Harold Kirk for 250,000 pounds. Kirk got the better of Anthony Bromley, positioned at the time with Paul Nicholls. The Flemensfirth sale-topper, now a five-year-old, is the first foal out of Lovely Present. That daughter of Presenting was successful on the track and she was also placed at Grade 2 level over fences. Moyle Park beat the good yardstick, Blackmail, when scoring at Christmas and a repeat of such a performance may well see him difficult to beat. One of the principal opponents to Moyle Park is The Game Changer. He looked pretty smart when winning at Cork and he has the invaluable assistance of Derek O'Connor here. Stable representative Simon McGonagle said of Wrath Of Titans after he'd scored in a Lingstown point-to-point: "This is a classy horse and he jumped great. He handled that ground (soft to heavy) well." Wrath Of Titans is a half-brother to the good mares, Shirley Casper, Oligarch Society and Lonesome Dove and he was purchased for 150,000 Euros at last year's Goffs Land Rover Sale by Gordon Elliott Racing. Wrath Of Titans is also a half-brother to the useful Thunder And Roses and it'll be fascinating to see how he gets on here - Jane Mangan's claim meaning that he receives 17Ibs from Moyle Park. (EM)

It's good to see an English raider here to spice things up a bit and it's particularly good when the visitor is a horse of HARRY TOPPER'S calibre. After the amount of favours Back In Focus has done me at this stage I'm loathe to desert him but Harry Topper just appeals a little bit more on the score of value. Tough, dour stayer that he is, perhaps Back In Focus' effort to get up and land the four-miler at Cheltenham, won't have left its mark, but if he heads the market then maybe he's a favourite to take on. The same connections Boston Bob would likely have won the RSA Chase had he not come down at the last but whether he really wants the gruelling test that this may well develop into, is open to question. Lyreen Legend, runner-up in the RSA, has to be respected, but Dedigout who finished in front of him in a Grade 1 novice hurdle here last year, may have his measure again. However it just looks like Harry Topper's campaign has been building towards a tilt at a big one this spring and he has a strong level of form including when accounting for Benefficient at Newbury in November. A horse that impresses at Exeter can go anywhere in my book and this Sir Harry Lewis gelding has twice done it well at that venue. There was a blip for Kim Bailey's gelding at Kelso last time but if everything goes to plan for him here a big performance is in the offing from Jason Maguire's mount. (EM)

Wide open bumper which is sure to produce many future winners. A chance is taken on the Dermot Weld trained newcomer WINDSOR PARK who is very well bred. He is out of a full-sister to 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Peagsus and it would come as no surprise if the son of Galileo managed to win here on his debut. Point-to-point winner Very Wood has missed recent track engagements but the Gordon Elliott trained gelding is sure to be popular among punters with Jane Mangan booked to ride. Some Hawk finished second on his debut at Fairyhouse earlier this month in the Tattersalls Ireland Sales Bumper and was subsequently purchased by JP McManus. On Blueberry Hill was the one who beat him at Fairyhouse and that one was since sold for 250,000 pounds at the Brightwells Sale at Cheltenham last week. With the experience of that run under his belt a good performance can be expected from Some Hawk while Sub Lieutenant, who finished seventh in the race won by On Blueberry Hill and is a half-brother to Lord Windermere, can also be expected to come on from his debut run. Derek O'Connor is an interesting jockey booking on Vision Du Coeur who cost €75,000 at Arqana in July of last year. The Fran Flood trained newcomer runs in the colours of P'tit Fute and it will be interesting to see how he goes. Wicklow Brave, Sharon and Flemenisu are others worth considering. (DM)