It has not been the spring that Gordon Elliott would have dreamt of but the Cullentra handler still managed to taste big-race successes at both Cheltenham and Aintree.

He's sure to be lining up a major assault on Punchestown next week as the jumps season in Ireland comes to a thrilling finale. Here's a look at some of Elliott's possible contenders for the Punchestown Festival.

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Stellar Story - The Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Steeplechase (Tuesday April 29th)

Victorious on his chasing debut in the 3m Florida Pearl Novice Chase at Punchestown in November, Stellar Story will return to the Kildare venue next week without another win in three starts since but with some good efforts behind him.

The most recent of those saw him chase home Lecky Watson in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham last month. A rematch with that Willie Mullins rival as well as Ballyburn, who disappointed in the same contest, could be in the offing now.

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

Elliott has only the one entry in the opening Grade 1 novice hurdle of the Punchestown Festival and it is the Gigginstown-owned Whinney Hill.

The son of Jack Hobbs has featured behind unbeaten Kopek Des Bordes in both starts over timber. He was third at Leopardstown on December 26, beaten less than seven lengths, but tailed off over the same course and distance at the Dublin Racing Festival.

The Mullins inmate has since added the Supreme at Cheltenham and this Elliott contender needs to step forward considerably to offer major resistance now.

The Yellow Clay - Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle (Wednesday April 30th)

The same cannot be said of The Yellow Clay in the 3m Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle on day two. The Yeats gelding won his first four starts over hurdles, including the Grade 1 Lawlor's of Naas over 2m4f in January.

He has also won at 2m6½f and could be primed to step up in trip after finishing closest to outstanding British-based novice The New Lion in the Turners at Cheltenham last month.

Elliott could alternatively wait for the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle over the intermediate trip on the Friday at Punchestown.

Kalypso'chance - Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race (Wednesday April 30th)

The Grade 1 bumper on Wednesday evening features plenty of Elliott-trained entries, including Kalypso'chance in the maroon and white of Gigginstown.

He was very impressive in his wins at this track and Navan pre-Christmas before being kept fresh for Cheltenham in March. He was right there turning for home in the Champion Bumper but weakened late on and he could be much sharper for that outing. He's certainly not one to write off as a bumper horse just yet.

Teahupoo — Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Thursday May 1st)

Back-to-back Stayers' Hurdles at Cheltenham proved elusive for Teahupoo but he didn't do a lot wrong and was only nailed close to the line by Bob Olinger in the same Robcour silks as Henry De Bromhead's charge preserved his unbeaten record at the Cotswolds venue.

They could clash again here, while Aintree scorer Hiddenvalley Lake would give owner Brian Acheson quite the nap-hand in this race if he also lines up.

Teahupoo hasn't endured a busy season — as is his wont — and he won this contest in good style last year.

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

Where next for Brighterdaysahead after she fluffed her lines at Cheltenham again? She's clearly a talented mare but maybe the Cotswolds track is not for her.

The Boodles Champion Hurdle on Friday evening could see her clash with State Man — who she defeated twice earlier in the season including over C&D — and possibly Constitution Hill and the unlikely Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace.

More likely, given her Cheltenham disappointment, is a crack at the Mares Champion Hurdle on Saturday over a longer trip. She rebounded from her defeat last March to win at Aintree over the 2m4f trip and her connections will be confident she can do it again.