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Min and Un De Sceaux head field of six for Champion Chase at Punchestown

Min and Ruby Walsh at full stretch over the last fence
Min: among Champion Chase field at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann

Tuesday's BoyleSports Champion Chase (5.30) will feature a clash between the Willie Mullins-trained stars Min and Un De Sceaux as a field of six was declared for the feature race on the opening day of the Punchestown festival.

But stablemate Douvan, the 2016 Arkle winner absent since last year's meeting, misses the race.

Min ran out an impressive winner of the Grade 1 Melling Chase at Aintree last time out, while Un De Sceaux was last seen finishing fifth to Frodon in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

Bookmakers have installed Min as 4-6 favourite for the race, with Un De Sceaux 100-30 to win the prize for the second year running.

Mullins also runs Great Field in the two-mile Grade 1, with Castlegrace Paddy, Ordinary World and the Harry Fry-trained Hell's Kitchen completing the line up.

The 3m½f Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (6.40) sees ultra-impressive Cheltenham winner A Plus Tard face Gigginstown's classy performer Delta Work, who was third in the RSA Chase, while the Mullins-trained Getabird takes a significant step up in trip.

A Plus Tard: went up a whopping 20lb for his most impressive success at Cheltenham
A Plus Tard: declared for the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice ChaseCredit: Mark Cranham

Mullins is also responsible for four of the six runners in the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle (4.20), with Ruby Walsh again partnering Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Klassical Dream. He faces stablemates Aramon, Mister Blue Sky and Quick Grabim. Gordon Elliott's Aintree winner Felix Desjy and the Nicky Henderson-trained Champagne Platinum complete the line up.

The ground at Punchestown on Sunday was yielding apart from the cross-country course where it was good, good to firm in places. The forecast for the week is unsettled.

Punters go for Plus

Betfair report that Close Brothers winner A Plus Tard has been a big mover in the Champion Novice Chase market.

Initially available at 14-1 following his Cheltenham win, he is now as short as 2-1 and is challenging Delta Work (6-4) for favouritism in Tuesday's Grade 1 event.

Betfair have also seen money for Buveur D'Air (15-8 from 3-1) for the Punchestown Champion Hurdle, while City Island has been backed into 6-4 (from 2) for the Champion Novice Hurdle.

Willie Mullins' runners have also seen support, with Ruby Walsh's booking on Klassical Dream prompting William Hill to shorten him in the Champion Novice Hurdle.

William Hill's Rupert Adams said: "Klassical Dream has been the best-backed horse on day one. He is 4-6 from evens."

Paddy Power have seen a big move for Mullins' Carefully Selected (4-1 from 16) for Wednesday's Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle. The bookmakers also have had support for Reserve Tank in the Champion Novice and Articulum in the Champion Novice Chase.

Paddy Power's Paul Binfield said: “Articulum has come in for some strong each-way support in the Champion Novice Chase with punters presumably believing that the Racing Post Arkle third will be well suited by the longer trip, having won a point over three miles.”


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West Country correspondent

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