Vauban a fitting final-day star for Mullins and Townend after stellar seasons

It is the last dance at Punchestown on Saturday as Willie Mullins heads back to his favourite court in search of a few more three-pointers.

The Closutton colossus, who is about to be crowned champion trainer for a 16th time, has been showboating all week with slam dunk after slam dunk and there is surely another one on its way in the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (5.00) as the explosive Vauban bids to follow up his Triumph Hurdle success.

Mullins has won that particular Grade 1 eight times already, most notably with Apple's Jade in 2016, and in Vauban he might just have the Champion Hurdle contender he has been craving next season.