Six huge jumps stars set to light up the last weeks of the season

Star novice chaser Galopin Des Champs is set to be the main attraction on a Fairyhouse card that features two Grade 1s on Sunday. With the Punchestown festival and jumps finale at Sandown to come, there are several other big names being primed for a spring outing . . .

Galopin Des Champs

BoyleSports Gold Cup Novice Chase (4.55 Fairyhouse, Sunday)

This six-year-old was set to annihilate his three Turners Novices' Chase rivals, including Bob Olinger, when falling at the last at the Cheltenham Festival last month.

He is set to return a month later for this €100,000 contest, for which he will be a warm order. His trainer Willie Mullins has won the last three runnings with Al Boum Photo, Voix Du Reve and Janidil.

What the trainer says

Willie Mullins: "It's a two-and-a-half-mile Grade 1, so it looks the right thing for him to do. Nothing untoward has happened since Cheltenham and I've been happy with him but, as with all these things, you never know how something like that will affect a horse until they run."

Honeysuckle

Paddy Power Champion Hurdle (5.25 Punchestown, April 29)

Jump racing's star mare is unbeaten in 15 starts under rules and will bid for back-to-back wins in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle.

She readily landed a second Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last month and posted her joint-highest Racing Post Rating of 165 in this race last year. She may face her stiffest task yet at Punchestown if Supreme Novices' Hurdle scorer Constitution Hill lines up.

What the trainer says

Henry de Bromhead: "I'm not in any way knocking Constitution Hill, he was hugely impressive, but please respect our lady. What she has achieved is incredible. If you want to use the term 'freak' with Constitution Hill, that's fine on what he did the other day – absolutely – but she's the freak."

Constitution Hill

Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle (4.15 Punchestown, April 26) or Paddy Power Champion Hurdle (5.25 Punchestown, April 29)

This Nicky Henderson-trained five-year-old ran away with the Supreme by 22 lengths and runner-up Jonbon franked the form with Grade 1 success at Aintree last week.

Constitution Hill, unbeaten in three starts under rules, has the option of staying in novice company or tackling his elders – Honeysuckle and co – in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle. It is a conundrum for connections, albeit a nice one to have.

What the owner says

Michael Buckley: "If the horse is absolutely bouncing and dumps his work-rider a couple of times then we'll think about taking on Honeysuckle. I guess it's a bold thing to do, but life's for living, isn't it?"

Clan Des Obeaux

Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (5.55 Punchestown, April 27)

This top-level chaser gained a second Betway Bowl Chase victory at Aintree and, although entered in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, appears likely to bid for back-to-back wins in the Punchestown Gold Cup.

Clan Des Obeaux: set to go for another Aintree-Punchestown doubleCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

He posted an RPR 1lb below his best (recorded in the Bowl and Punchestown Gold Cup last year) last week and should have solid claims again on spring ground.

What the trainer says

Paul Nicholls: "Running at Aintree and Punchestown certainly worked out well last year. He had quite a hard race last week but he's come out of it well, so who knows. It'll be a good race whatever happens. It was always the plan to do the two and that's not changed."

Paisley Park

Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (5.25 Punchestown, April 28)

The 2019 Stayers' Hurdle hero is set for his first Irish foray to tackle this three-mile hurdle at the end of the month.

Trained by Emma Lavelle, he finished a fine third in the Stayers' Hurdle last month and won't have winner Flooring Porter to worry about at Punchestown.

What the owner says

Andrew Gemmell: "We'd have liked to have gone there previously with him but this seems the right time to go now. He ran a blinder at Cheltenham and it'll be great to head over – I've been a few times and thoroughly enjoy it."

Win My Wings

bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (3.32 Sandown, April 23)

This mare has been one of the sensations of the season, winning the Eider Chase and Scottish National on her last two starts.

The Christian Williams-trained nine-year-old could bid for another big-race pot on the last day of the season in Britain as she is entered in this £160,000 contest, in which stablemate Kitty's Light, who she beat at Ayr, finished an unlucky second last season.

What the trainer says

Christian Williams: "She's been to France before and won, so that style of racing does suit her, but I don't think she'll go this year as she's had two hard races. She might go to Sandown for the bet365 Gold Cup, she does have that option. The thing is with these mares when they get on a roll you want to keep the ball rolling."

Read these next:

'It'll be a hell of a race' – Clan Des Obeaux primed for Punchestown defence

Nicky Henderson: It looks like the championship is over – we're too far behind

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