Mullins upbeat with Min out to bag back-to-back wins in the John Durkan

Willie Mullins reports Min to be in "good shape" as he starts his season in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, bidding to give his trainer a sixth win in the Grade 1.

Success for Min, the top-rated runner in what looks a strong renewal, would emulate the achievements of his former stablemate Djakadam, who carried the famous pink and green-spotted silks of Susannah Ricci to victory in 2015 and 2016.

Prior to Djakadam's heroics, Merry Gale was the last horse to win back-to-back runnings of the race in 1994 and 1995, which illustrates just how tough a task it is to land consecutive runnings of this €85,000 prize.

But Min has a lot going for him. Proven over the course and trip, he brings an outstanding strand of form to the table having landed last season's Melling Chase by 20 lengths. A reproduction of that effort would make him hard to beat on his seasonal reappearance and Mullins is predicting a good display.

The champion trainer said: "Min is in good shape. He likes Punchestown and the trip and ground will be fine. He has plenty going for him on his first start of the season.”

Russell 'can't wait' to get back on Percy

This race represents a clean slate for Presenting Percy, one of the major disappointments from last season, and Davy Russell is excited to continue his partnership with Pat Kelly’s 2018 RSA Chase hero.

Presenting Percy raced only twice last term, finishing down the field in the Gold Cup after an unorthodox preparation for the Cheltenham showpiece.

However, Russell, who admits he hasn’t sat on Presenting Percy at Kelly’s base in County Galway, has labelled the John Durkan as the perfect starting point as the Philip Reynolds-owned chaser sets about rebuilding his reputation.

Presenting Percy: makes his first start since finishing eighth in the Cheltenham Gold CuoCredit: Patrick McCann

Russell said: "I'm delighted Presenting Percy is back and I'm looking forward to getting started back on him. I haven't sat on him yet [this season] but the John Durkan is a nice starting point.

"He's probably really a three-miler and the Durkan is two and a half miles but he has been a great horse for me and I just can't wait to get back on him and get his season started."

O'Leary: the more rain the better for Shattered Love and Hardline

Shattered Love was only beaten one and a half lengths by Min in this race last year and testing ground would help Gordon Elliott’s charge exact revenge, according to Gigginstown’s Eddie O’Leary.

Winner of the 2018 JLT Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, Shattered Love notched her first success since that career highlight when running out an impressive Listed winner at Clonmel last month, but this represents an altogether different task.

Shattered Love: the brilliant JLT Novices' Chase winner from 2018 has race fitness on her sideCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

O’Leary said: “Shattered Love was very good at Clonmel and comes into this in good form, but she's very ground dependent. Hopefully the ground is nice and soft for her to help her jump.”

Gigginstown and Elliott are also represented by Hardline, a Grade 1-winning novice chaser who has a preference for heavy going.

On his chances, O’Leary added: “Hardline won a Grade 1 on soft ground over this trip at Limerick last Christmas and, like Shattered Love, we're hoping for the best with him.”

Power hoping to reignite Arkle winner Duc Des Genievres

Robbie Power has had plenty of success from a short supply of ammunition when it comes to riding for Willie Mullins and the in-form rider is hoping Duc Des Genievres, last season’s Arkle Chase winner, can recapture his best form.

21 per cent - Robbie Power's strike-rate when riding for Willie Mullins in Ireland in the last five seasons.

Power said: "I have never sat on Duc Des Genievres but I'm delighted to have picked up the ride for Willie Mullins – Punchestown has been lucky for us.”

Duc Des Genievres: won the 2019 Racing Post Arkle ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

He added: "Willie often runs a lot of horses in these good Grade 1 races and I've been lucky enough to win Grade 1s at Punchestown on Saldier and Chacun Pour Soi so it would be nice if Duc Des Genievres could be another one.”

Anibale Fly and Snow Falcon others to note

Anibale Fly, runner-up to Al Boum Photo in the Cheltenham Gold Cup before finishing fifth in the Grand National, and the Noel Meade-trained Snow Falcon are others to note.

Anibale Fly: gets his season under way in the John DurkanCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Meanwhile, Real Steel and Voix Du Reve complete Willie Mullins’ four-strong team, and he said: “Real Steel won very well over the trip in a Grade 2 at Down Royal last month. This will be a big step up in class for him, but he has race fitness on his side and we'll see where he fits in with the rest of the season in mind.”

He added: “The same applies to Voix Du Reve, who'll be stepping out of novice company for the first time. We're thinking of going further with him this season and Sunday's race will give us an indication what direction we'll take.”

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