We've got quotes from connections and Man On The Spot's tips for the feature action at Punchestown on Sunday as Don Poli runs in the National trial.
BoyleSports Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (4.20)
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Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud is represented by seven horses in a 17-strong field for the BoyleSports National Trial Handicap Chase at Punchestown.
They include the top three in the weights on Sunday - Don Poli, Monbeg Notorious and Dounikos - all trained by Gordon Elliott, as are General Principle and Woods Well, while Joseph O'Brien trains the other two, Arkwrisht and Wishmoor.
Elliott unsurprisingly fancies his chances with such a big contingent.
The County Meath trainer told Betfair: "This is a very valuable pot, so we're keen to try and win it again but a few of them are going to have to step forward in a big way from what they have shown lately.
"Don Poli has struggled badly in his two runs since coming back from injury. He has pulled up both times, and I think he'd prefer much softer ground than he will get here to be seen at his best.
"Monbeg Notorious had a really good time of things last season when he won the Thyestes Chase. He was a bit later getting going this season and he would have needed his run in the Thyestes last time - but even so he was well beaten and he's got to take a huge jump forward to play a part here. He too would prefer softer ground.
"Dounikos was well held when he fell in the Thyestes last time, but his previous run in the Paddy Power Chase was quite encouraging - and if he returned to that form I think that he could run well.
"In the last couple of seasons he has seemed to lose his way in the last few months of the season ,and I just hope that isn't the case."
Elliott is hoping his strength in numbers can still do the trick, though.
He added: "General Principle is off a mark that gives him a chance of winning another good handicap. I thought he ran a solid race in the Paddy Power at Christmas, and his latest fifth in the Thyestes was a respectable effort. He does tend to come to himself in the spring, and I think he has a good chance of reaching the placings at least.
"Woods Well is a frustrating horse, because I feel he has the ability to win a good handicap, but most of his form in big field handicaps has been quite disappointing.
"He had a run over hurdles to sweeten him up last month and he shaped quite nicely for much of that race before fading out of contention - so I wouldn't be shocked if he showed up well here, even though his form suggests otherwise."
Space Cadet completes the Elliott team.
"Space Cadet is one of those horses that has been waiting all season for soft ground, and I haven't been able to get a run into him since he ran in the Troytown at Navan in November," he said.
"Last season he was placed in the Thyestes, this race and the Leinster National - so he is more than good enough to make an impact. But I would like to see the ground soften quite a bit for him, and ideally I'd have preferred another run between the Troytown and here."
Willie Mullins has three runners - last year's second Isleofhopendreams, Some Neck and Orion D'Aubrelle as he too chases a big slice of the cash on offer.
"There's huge prize money," said the trainer's son and assistant Patrick.
"Ruby (Walsh) rides Some Neck. He fell in the Thyestes but he was fine. He's a second-season novice - which gives him the potential to be unexposed.
"He has a light weight of 10st 12lb and he's a very much a stayer, so this trip will work to his advantage.
"Isleofhopendreams was second in this race last year, second in the Irish Grand National and second at Punchestown afterwards.
"He's 7lb higher than he was last year. He was very disappointing in the Thyestes, but we're hoping he can return to form.
"Orion D'Aubrelle is a frustrating horse. He has ability but is very in and out. He has 10st 1lb - which is going to be a huge advantage. If he's on a going day you would have to think he should run very well, but he's just not the most consistent."
Dinnie's Vinnie is 5lb out of the handicap, but his trainer Philip Dempsey is happy for him to run because opportunities are limited.
"We'll let him take his chance, because there's not a lot else for him in staying chases," said the County Kildare handler.
"He's 11 years old. We don't have to be that protective of his handicap mark."
Man On The Spot Verdict
Gordon Elliott trained last year’s winner and runs six today with Davy Russell partnering Dounikos, though he's struggled since landing a Grade 2 at Limerick back in 2017 while stable companions Don Poli and Monbeg Notorious have the past form to figure if back to their best. Five of Elliott’s runners sport the Gigginstown colours and so do Joseph O’Brien’s duo Arkwrisht and Wishmoor but neither arrive in good form. Willie Mullins has three representatives including last year’s runner-up Isleofhopendreams, who finished well ahead of Space Cadet on that occasion and is preferred to Orion D'Aubrelle, but stablemate SOME NECK makes more appeal with Ruby Walsh doing the steering. The latter came a cropper at Gowran last time but won a Grade 2 novices’ chase over a shorter trip here in November and has plenty of scope for further improvement over fences. Fitzhenry finished just in front of Solomn Grundy when third at Leopardstown last time and that pair are hard to separate but Agent Boru and Kilkishen are upped in class for this.
I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle (2.20)
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Prince D'Aubrelle will attempt to make up for lost time when he returns from another lengthy break in the Listed INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.
The nine-year-old has been absent since making a successful jumps debut at Tipperary in May - his first run for 949 days after winning the third of his five bumper races.
Prince D'Aubrelle had been pencilled in to return at Leopardstown last week, but the fragile gelding was taken out by trainer Willie Mullins because the ground was unsuitable.
"He is a horse with a lot of ability," said Mullins' son and assistant Patrick.
"He's been hard to keep sound, and we took him out of Leopardstown because of the ground - but he won three bumpers, and he won his maiden hurdle very well.
"He's definitely a black-type horse, so we'd be expecting a big run from him."
The Closutton stable is also represented by La Sorelita, who is favoured by the weight allowances.
"She was a little disappointing in Fairyhouse, but she is getting an awful lot of weight," said Mullins.
"She is stepping out of the juvenile division and taking on her elders. She only has 10st 2lb on her back, and I think the track and the ground will suit her.
"She's a horse that works well at home and is better than her form says."
Gordon Elliott's Chosen Mate is a general 33-1 chance in ante-post markets for each of the three novice hurdles (Supreme, Ballymore and Albert Bartlett) at next month's Cheltenham Festival and steps up in grade, having won his maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in January.
"He won a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle in good style a couple of weeks ago when he was making his debut for us," Elliott told Betfair.
"I thought he jumped well, and for an ex point-to-pointer he coped well with coming back to two miles.
"This is going to be a much tougher test for him, but the way he won at Fairyhouse suggested that he was worth a try at a decent novice hurdle, and I'd be expecting him to run well. He's going to improve nicely from his last run."
Elliott also runs Tintangle and feels she will not be disgraced.
"Tintangle ran a respectable third to Honeysuckle last time," he said.
"But I'm not sure we saw the best of her that day, because she didn't seem to travel as well as she did when she was third to Aramon in a Grade One at Leopardstown over Christmas.
"At her best Tintangle is a very talented mare - and I'm not sure we have seen the best of her over hurdles to date - so a good run from her wouldn't surprise."
Joseph O'Brien's Top Moon, owned by J P McManus, makes his hurdles debut in the race, having been touched off in a bumper at Naas last month - but faces a tough task in this company.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained Sinoria took two runs to win her maiden hurdle, at Down Royal at Christmas, but did score easily then.
Luke Comer's Kingston Girl was a winner at Fairyhouse last month but was well held on one run since and is the likely outsider of the seven.
Man On The Spot Verdict
Chosen Mate won a point-to-point in October and made an impressive debut under Rules when comfortably beating a huge field of maidens at Fairyhouse. He has a penalty to carry as does PRINCE D'AUBRELLE, who completed a hat-trick of bumper victories before impressing on his hurdling bow at Tipperary in May. That was after a very long absence and he has another to overcome but he's obviously smart and can start making up for lost time. Tintangle has been placed in Grade 1 and 3 events after scrambling home in a Thurles maiden while Sinoria was always travelling nicely when easily landing a 2m4f Down Royal maiden and Rachael Blackmore will ensure there's no hanging around. La Sorelita was a disappointing favourite at Fairyhouse after a very promising debut for the yard in a Leopardstown Grade 2.
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