A Champion Chase upset? Envoi Allen cut to 14-1 from 20 for day one highlight

You would be forgiven for thinking we are set for a Willie Mullins match between Energumene and Chacun Pour Soi in Tuesday's feature Champion Chase (5.25) but the market suggests Envoi Allen should not be discounted at a double-figure price.

The Cheveley Park-owned eight-year-old has reverted to two miles on his last couple of starts, winning a weak Leopardstown Grade 1 over Christmas before undergoing wind surgery.

The two-time Cheltenham Festival winner then finished a respectable third in the Champion Chase last month, and although he has 13 lengths to find with market leader Energumene, he is now no bigger than 14-1 having been 20-1 overnight with race sponsors William Hill.

Envoi Allen has been beaten on his last two visits to Punchestown, including when pulled up by Rachael Blackmore at this meeting last year, but some punters believe he could outrun his odds.

Sky Bet's Michael Shinners said: "There has been money as you’d expect for the Mullins popular horses, with Sir Gerhard and Energumene strong. Envoi Allen has seen money though in the 5.25 - he is 12s from 20s."

Support for sole British raider

Punters are looking to alternatives for one of Blackmore's other big rides on the opening day of the festival, Bob Olinger in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase, (6.35) with significant support for British raider Millers Bank.

Bob Olinger, who is a best price 11-8 favourite (from 11-10 on Monday) maintained his unbeaten chasing record in fortuitous circumstances in the Turners at the Cheltenham Festival and steps up to three-miles plus for the first time under rules.

Millers Bank provided Edgcote trainer Alex Hales with his first Grade 1 winner at Aintree last time out and also steps up to 3m½f for the first time as he tackles a much stronger race. His odds have been cut to 15-2 (from 10 on Monday) and he is as short as 7-1 in places.

Betfair spokesman Barry Orr said: "The sole British raider, Millers Bank, has been well backed and is now 7-1 from 9-1. Away from the Grade 1s, Clifton Warrior in the 4.50 is very strong and is now 12-1 from 20-1."

Can Mullins make the perfect start? Punters think so and are backing Grangee

Working out which Willie Mullins horse to side with is a key theme for the first day of the Punchestown festival and support for Grangee in the opening race, the Howden Insurance Brokers Mares' Novice Hurdle (3.40), is beginning to pick up pace with the six-year-old into 3-1 (from 7-2).

Grangee was 17 lengths behind stablemate Dinoblue, the favourite for this afternoon's race at 15-8, when they last met on Easter Sunday at Fairyhouse just nine days ago but that came over 2m4f whereas this contest is over 2m½f.

Grangee: leading player in the opening race of the five-day meetingCredit: Patrick McCann

That drop in trip should suit Grangee, who won a Grade 3 mares’ bumper over course and distance at this meeting last season, and comfortably had Dinoblue in behind at the Cheltenham Festival in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle which was over a shorter trip than last time.

Meanwhile in the Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle (4.15), the first Grade 1 and second big-name Mullins clash of the day, favourite Sir Gerhard is firming up again after initial support on Tuesday morning for Dysart Dynamo.

Dysart Dynamo, who is 7-4 (from 2), fell at the third last in the Supreme last time out having been part of the leading trio which included the eventual ultra-impressive winner Constitution Hill and Jonbon, who went on to win at Grade 1 at Aintree on his next run.

Having bolted up in a bumper and a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Punchestown before that Cheltenham fall, it will interesting to see if the front-running Dysart Dynamo can extend his unbeaten record at the track with market leader Sir Gerhard dropping back in distance from his Ballymore victory. Sir Gerhard’s only defeat in seven starts came at Punchestown at this meeting last year.

Later on the card Tech Talk, who has the benefit of Scottish National-winning rider Rob James in the saddle, has been backed into 18-1 to land the Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Chase for the Ladies' Perpetual Cup (7.10), having been 40s overnight.

The seven-year-old demonstrated a liking to the Banks course at Lingstown when finishing second last month and punters are hoping that the Jim Dreaper representative can go one better here.

Rob James: rider's mount Tech Talk has been well supportedCredit: Ian MacNicol

How's Trix has been backed into a general 28-1 (from 80) in the same race. The six-year-old, who has 85 lengths to find with the Willie Mullins-trained odds-on favourite Good Bye Sam based on their last meeting in a hunter chase at Tramore just over a fortnight ago, was 80-1 overnight but has been drastically cut.

A runner-up in a couple of point-to-points but winless in eight starts, it is difficult to see How's Trix taking the first race of the meeting over the banks barring a massive improvement although the trainer and jockey combination could be what enticed punters at bigger prices.

Trainer John Gleeson won this race in 2018 with Just Wait And See while jockey Ray Barron steered Blue Templar to success a year later for Enda Bolger.

Updated at 2.10pm

Punchestown market movers

3.40 Grangee 3-1 (from 7-2)
4.50 Glan 9-2 (from 6), Clifton Warrior 12-1 (from 20)
5.25 Envoi Allen 14-1 (from 20)
6.35 Millers Bank 15-2 (from 10)
7.10 How's Trix 28-1 (from 80), Tech Talk 18-1 (from 40)

Updated at 2.10pm

Ground and weather: 'It’s where we want it to be for the festival'

The going for the opening day of the five-day festival is good to yielding, yielding in places on the hurdle and chase track and good on the cross-country course.

Clerk of the course Brendan Sheridan said on Tuesday morning: "We’ve been watering for the last ten days or fortnight and the ground is in a good place, it’s where we want it to be. We have fresh ground every day on the hurdle and chase course through the week.

"The forecast is for it to be mainly dry so we will continue to water and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone here today."

Posted at 9.10am

Non-runners

6.00 2. Alden
7.10 9. Inchidaly Copper
7.45 13. Sycamore Grey

Read more on day one of the Punchestown Festival:

4.15 Punchestown: 'I really wanted to go two miles' - is Sir Gerhard a live Champion Hurdle hope?

5.25 Punchestown: Paul Townend: 'I had to stick with Energumene, he's a Champion Chase winner'

6.35 Punchestown: 'It's all systems go' - De Bromhead hoping Bob Olinger shines over longer trip

Punchestown tips: one key runner from the eight races at the festival on Tuesday

Punchestown festival tips: Tuesday's best bets from Racing Post experts

'I wanted to try it here' - the four most revealing trainer quotes for Tuesday

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