Gavin Cromwell runner halved in price as day one of Punchestown festival begins

The opening day of the five-day Punchestown festival begins on Tuesday afternoon, with the Grade 1 William Hill Champion Chase (5.25) and the Champion Novice Chase (6.35) the standout contests.

Here, we look ahead to the action and keep you updated with everything you need to know before the first race at 3.40.

Facile Vega is a steady favourite for the Grade 1 KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle (4.15), but Il Etait Temps is likely to provide a tricky task for the Supreme runner-up and has been backed into 7-2 second favourite (from 5-1).

Facile Vega is a best-priced 8-13 to return to winning ways after finishing a surprising fifth of six at the Dublin Racing Festival before an improved effort at Cheltenham.

He was soundly beaten by his Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Il Etait Temps in that Leopardstown contest in February, although that form was reversed in the Supreme when Il Etait Temps was almost six lengths adrift of Facile Vega as both chased home impressive winner Marine Nationale.

Il Etait Temps has won two of his seven starts over hurdles, while Facile Vega is seeking a second straight victory at the Punchestown festival after triumphing in the Champion Bumper 12 months ago.

Energumene hardens as Champion Chase favourite

Paul Townend celebrates victory in the Champion Chase on EnergumeneCredit: Michael Steele

For a second successive year, Energumene heads into the Grade 1 William Hill Champion Chase (5.25) on the back of a victory in the Cheltenham equivalent.

Trained by Willie Mullins, the nine-year-old won his fifth Grade 1 after a ten-length success over Captain Guinness. Energumene dispatched six other rivals at the festival last year before going on to win this race and the bookmakers have him as the odds-on favourite to do so again.

He is 3-10 (from 2-5) with bet365 to land the Grade 1, while he is 1-3 with William Hill and BetVictor for success. Gentleman De Mee is second in the market at 5-1 with most firms.

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: "Energumene is very solid despite his short price in the feature, but interestingly punters are taking on Facile Vega with stable companion Il Etait Temps in the Champion Novice Hurdle."

In the final Grade 1 of the day, the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (6.35), Journey With Me has shortened to 9-4 having been 11-4 with most firms overnight. The seven-year-old, who will be ridden by Rachael Blackmore, tasted Graded success for the first time in the Grade 3 Directors Plate Novice Chase at Naas last month.

Willie Mullins trains four of the six in the field and there is little to separate his trio of Appreciate It, Classic Getaway and Sir Gerhard in the market.

Path D'Oroux shortens in betting for Cromwell

The Gavin Cromwell-trained Path D'Oroux has received significant support in the market for the Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle (4.50) this afternoon.

The six-year-old, who has won three of his six starts under rules but was last seen being pulled up in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, has halved in price to 8-1, having been 16-1 with most firms overnight.

A pair of JP McManus-owned runners in Brazil and Tekao head the market, although another leading fancy Merlin Giant has drifted slightly this morning.