Willie Mullins has dominated the big Irish jumps racing festivals this season and Punchestown could be set to follow suit.
The Closutton maestro has won with a staggering 30 per cent of his 740 runners this season and that improves to 41 per cent with his runners at Punchestown.
Willie Mullins and Paul Townend with one of their potential bankers – State ManSportsfile
Mullins and Paul Townend have been formidable and he holds nearly all the aces in the Grade 1 races throughout the season-ending Punchestown meeting.
Many of the favourites are trained by him and these five horses are must-includes in your Punchestown multiples.
Facile Vega (4.15 Punchestown, Tuesday)
Although the shine has been somewhat taken off Facile Vega after two recent defeats, he is still a rising star and can sign off his hurdling campaign with a win.
There is no Marine Nationale in this field and he beat both Diverge and Il Etait Temps in that Supreme, giving him leading claims in this.
Energumene (5.25 Punchestown, Tuesday)
The dual Champion Chaser needs no real introduction. It was somewhat baffling how he went off odds-against last month and he is 8lb clear of his rivals on official ratings.
On all known form, he should make all the running and will be very difficult to catch.
Gaelic Warrior (5.20 Punchestown, Wednesday)
Affordale Fury was an admirable second in last month’s Albert Bartlett, but Gaelic Warrior could have too much speed for him here.
Progressive over hurdles, it was no disgrace to find Impaire Et Passe too strong in the Ballymore last month, and a repeat of that effort should be enough.
Tullyhill (6.30 Punchestown, Wednesday)
A Dream To Share will be a formidable opponent, but Tullyhill looked out of the top draw when making a winning bumper debut at Gowran last month.
Costing £220,000 at the sales, his powerful connections evidently think plenty of him and although he’ll improve for an obstacle, he’s clearly forward enough to make his mark in top bumpers.
State Man (5.25 Punchestown, Friday)
Willie Mullins has four of the top five horses in the ante-post market but State Man sticks out like a sore thumb.
A triple Grade 1 winner earlier this season, defeating the likes of Vauban and Honeysuckle, only Constitution Hill has beaten him this term, which tells you all you need to know.
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