The one race you don't want to miss on Wednesday

4.15 Punchestown
Irish Daily Star Chase (Grade 3) | 3m1f | 5yo+ | RTV

Why is it interesting?

A competitive looking early-season chase in which all of the six runners have won at Graded level.

Balko Des Flos, the only Grade 1 winner in the line-up, escapes a penalty for his Ryanair Chase victory at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival.

Those taking on Rachael Blackmore's mount include last season's Troytown Chase and Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase winner Tout Est Permis and Alpha Des Obeaux, who ran second in both the Thyestes Chase and the Bobbyjo Chase last season.

What do the stats say?

Gigginstown House Stud has dominated this event, winning the race on ten occasions since the inaugural running in 2005.

The O'Leary brothers own four of the six runners – Balko Des Flos, Tout Est Permis, Alpha Des Obeaux and Dounikos. Their winners of the race include Cheltenham Gold Cup heros War Of Attrition, who was successsful in 2005, 2006 and 2008, and Don Cossack, who won in 2014 and 2015.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Alpha Des Obeaux and Dounikos, trained five consecutive winners of the race for Gigginstown between 2011 and 2015, while Noel Meade, trainer of Tout Est Permis, was successful with Casey Jones in 2009 and Road To Respect in 2017.

Henry de Bromhead, who is represented by Balko Des Flos, won with Sadler's Risk in 2016 and Sub Lieutenant a year ago.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Some Neck, is seeking a first win in the event.

What do the trainers say?

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Jett
It will be his first time going the distance, so it will be interesting to see how he gets on. Small-field races suit him and he jumped well at Gowran last time before getting bogged down in the ground.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Some Neck
He's not well treated at the weights, but he has won and run well at this course in the past and that is a plus. He seems in good form.

Noel Meade, trainer of Tout Est Permis
He's in good form and just ready to start back. We're a good bit wrong at the weights with Balko Des Flos, but it's a Grade 3 conditions race and an ideal starting point for him. The ground will be fine, but he's a horse who wouldn't mind it softer.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Alpha Des Obeaux and Dounikos
Alpha Des Obeaux is in good form and should run well, although he should come on for the run. Dounikos was disappointing after winning the Grand National Trial at the course in February and we're hoping this return might help boost his confidence.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Balko Des Flos
He was murdered with his shins last season, but he seems in good form now and has done well fresh in the past. This looked a nice race to start him back in and he's well treated at the weights. Hopefully he'll enjoy a better campaign this time.

What do our tipsters say?

Spotlight: Mark Boylan
A Gigginstown-dominated contest that can go the way of Tout Est Permis, who is very effective when fresh and represents a stable in great order. He has to take a sizeable step forward on ratings to get the better of Balko Des Flos, a high-class operator who has every chance if fit enough on his return, but that eight-year-old lacked consistency last term.

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