This year's Punchestown Festival has attracted an unprecedented number of possible contenders from Britain with virtually all the top trainers represented.
21 British trainers have made entries, including Martin Pipe, Venetia Williams, Jonjo O'Neill, Paul Nicholls, Henrietta Knight & Nicky Henderson. There is also an entry from France, the Francois Doumen-trained First Gold, who bounced back to form when winning the Martell Cup at Aintree. He is entered in the Heineken Gold Cup worth €160,000 run on Wednesday April 30.
Other entries in that race include the Peter Beaumont trained, Hussard Collonges, who ran disappointingly in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the 1999 Gold Cup hero, See More Business and the Henry Daly-trained Young Spartacus. The home defence includes Beef Or Salmon, last year's winner, Florida Pearl, Harbour Pilot, who was third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Ted Walsh-trained Commanche Court.
Queen Mother Champion Chase winner, Moscow Flyer could be opposed by up to six UK entries in the BMW chase, including Flagship Uberalles, Tresor De Mai, Cenkos & Le Roi Miguel.
The Jonjo O'Neill trained Intersky Falcon heads the list for the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle, which also includes the Vincent O'Brien Handicap H'dle hero Spirit Leader.
The seven British-trained entries in the Grade 1 IAWS Champion 4yo Hurdle include JCB Triumph Hurdle winner, Spectroscope & Paul Nicholls' Sporazene. Limestone Lad is set to bid for a second Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers Hurdle, where he could meet Cheltenham Festival winners, Inching Closer, Xenephon, as well as Sacundai who beat Rooster Booster at Aintree.
Filed by James McMahon
