'Chacun Pour Soi has a new star to contend with' - five key Punchestown clashes

The Irish jumps season will draw to a close at Punchestown next week and here are five mouthwatering clashes that could potentially light up the final days . . .

Dysart Dynamo v El Fabiolo

Tuesday 4.15 Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle

The prospect of Willie Mullins running two of his hottest novice hurdlers against each other could make for a race to savour.

It may become a Willie Mullins bonanza with State Man and Sir Gerhard also holding entries, with perhaps the longer race the target for the latter.

It’s impossible to know exactly where Dysart Dynamo would have finished in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, but he wasn’t done with when coming down two out. The runaway Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle winner probably wouldn't have lived with Constitution Hill, but he might have beaten Jonbon and the remainder.

Dysart Dynamo will bid to make amends for his Cheltenham mishapCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Fast forward to Aintree and Nicky Henderson’s full brother to Douvan was run to a neck by another exciting Mullins novice in the form of El Fabiolo.

The Closutton duo might be closely matched, so it will be interesting to see which of them Paul Townend will ride should the trainer elect to run them both.

Two exciting novices going head to head? Yes please.

Energumene v Chacun Pour Soi

Tuesday 5.25 William Hill Champion Chase

The Champion Chaser versus the local champion. Willie Mullins has taken the last three renewals of day one's feature and he could line up a pair of two-mile giants to battle it out.

Chacun Pour Soi was electric when landing this prize 12 months ago, as he was at the Dublin Racing Festival in February. His trainer said he looked to be “enjoying himself” when crashing out five from home in the Champion Chase, leaving us to ponder what might have been.

But Chacun has a new star to contend with this year, and it will be fascinating to see how he copes with the raw power of Energumene.

Energumene will look to back up his Champion Chase win at PunchestownCredit: Mike Hewitt (Getty Images)

The Tony Bloom-owned gelding was agonisingly close to knocking Shishkin off the top of the two-mile table in the Clarence House at Ascot in January, but he proudly sits there now after finally ending Mullins’ Champion Chase hoodoo.

Two top-class chasers going at it over two miles is what it is all about.

Allaho v Clan Des Obeaux v Al Boum Photo

Wednesday 5.55 Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup

A dual Ryanair Chase champion taking on a dual Gold Cup winner and a dual King George hero could turn the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup into one of the races of the week.

With perhaps too much pace in the Punchestown Champion Chase last year for Allaho, a tilt at the three-mile contest seems to be on the agenda. He was as brilliant as ever at Prestbury Park in March, with another faultless performance leading to a second Ryanair success.

Allaho clears the last on his way to a second Ryanair ChaseCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Clan Des Obeaux landed the spoils last year and, with him taking the same route via Aintree, Paul Nicholls will doubtless fancy his chances again. The Sir Alex Ferguson-owned ten-year-old was excellent in last year’s renewal, fending off Al Boum Photo to become the first English winner since Planet Of Sound in 2010.

Willie Mullins has taken four of the last eight renewals, and, although Allaho hasn’t won over three miles since his novice hurdling days, his potential presence in this alongside Al Boum Photo would give the defending champion plenty of food for thought.

The Nice Guy v Minella Crooner

Wednesday 5.20 Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle

Albert Bartlett winners haven't got the best record in this, with Minella Indo the only one to back up his Cheltenham heroics in recent years. The Nice Guy carries a similar profile to the 2021 Gold Cup winner, arriving at Cheltenham with very little experience before scooting to glory.

Malcolm Denmark’s gelding was a ready winner of the three-mile novice event and looks a proper stayer in the making.

But he will have to work for it. The switch to three miles has brought out the best in Minella Crooner, and he should arrive here fresher than most after bypassing Cheltenham with a slight setback.

Minella Crooner bypassed Cheltenham and will head to Punchestown freshCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

A son of Shantou, he is held in high regard by Gordon Elliot, who sees him a “proper staying chaser in the making”. He will give the Albert Bartlett winner plenty to think about.

Marie’s Rock v Telmesomethinggirl

Saturday 3.50 Coolmore Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle

There has been no British-trained winner of this race since it was first run in 2004, but they hold a real ace in the 2022 edition.

Marie’s Rock was a ready winner of the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, swooping by Queens Brook to land her maiden Grade 1 success. She was produced perfectly by Nico De Boinville and will be the one to beat if she lines up here.

Marie's Rock and Nico de Boinville will be hard to beat if they line up at PunchestownCredit: Edward Whitaker

Last year’s heroine Stormy Ireland is amongst the entries, but Telmesomethinggirl is maybe the intriguing candidate. She looked full of running coming down to the second last at Prestbury Park before being brought down by Indefatigable in unfortunate circumstances.

That meant she couldn't back up her Cheltenham heroics from last year’s festival but this is over her optimum two-and-a-half-mile trip again, so a clear round should see her rattle Marie's Rock.

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