Pearl set to prove her worth on the big stage for McConnell

John McConnell has snared his fair share of valuable pots over the past few seasons and the Stamullen-based trainer is hopeful that another juicy cheque will be cashed courtesy of the progressive Pearl Of The West in the Killashee Handicap Hurdle (4.55).

The trainer is open to exploring different tactics with the mare, who tends to try to win her races the hard way from the front.

Explaining his thinking, McConnell said: "We were just a little disappointed with her at Ayr, but maybe they just went too hard up front as it was a true-run race and it was a course record time that day.

"This looks a really competitive race for the money and we're open to riding her a little differently. In a race like this, it's just that bit harder to make all the running, but she's in great nick and I couldn't be happier with her."

Konitho: winning on yard debut before being bought by JP McManusCredit: Patrick McCann

JP McManus appears to hold a strong hand in a €60,000 handicap hurdle, a race the legendary owner has won twice in the past four years.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained Konitho would appear to have the strongest claims for McManus, who is also represented by the Willie Mullins-trained Sancta Simona and the Nick Gifford-trained Belargus, who sneaks in as one of the bottom weights.

Speaking about the trio, Frank Berry, racing manager for McManus, said: "Konitho hasn't been out for a while, but Joseph is happy with him so we're hoping for the best.

"Sancta Simona disappointed for some reason last time at Fairyhouse. She came there with a chance and for whatever reason just didn't see it out. She's back in trip here and we’re hopeful."

He added of Belargus, one of two British runners along with the Sophie Leech-trained Man Of Plenty: "He's scraped in at the bottom. This will be a big step up for him, his first start in a handicap, but Nick is happy with him."

Tyner bids to enhance bumper record

The €100,000 Goffs Land Rover Bumper (6.05) has produced some top-notch horses down the years – Hardy Eustace (2002), Newmill (2003) and Petit Mouchoir (2015), for example – but no trainer has a better recent record than shrewd operator Robert Tyner.

The Cork-based trainer has won two of the past three runnings with Coeur De Lion (2016) and Vision Des Flos (2017), and Tyner is represented by Arctic Ambition, Fiston De Beacon and Nelson's Point this time around.

He said: "They're three nice horses and they go there with a chance. I'd be hopeful of a nice run from them all, but they might just lack a bit of experience compared to other horses we've run in the race in past years.

"It's been a very dry year and we haven't been able to gallop them on grass, but we're hopeful."

Nicky Henderson last won this race in 2005 with Its A Dream and the Lambourn trainer has called upon champion amateur Patrick Mullins for his representative Son Of Camas.

Henderson said: "He's a nice horse that I like. I haven't been able to get a run into him as I wanted because the ground has been too firm for him.

"He does his work very well at home and if it was an English bumper I would be quite confident. He has a rider who knows his way round Punchestown pretty well."

Punchestown card

Get exclusive insight from the track and live tipping with our up-to-the-minute Raceday Live service on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app