Willie Mullins holds strong claims with Bapaume and Bleu Berry

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This may not be the biggest or best race run at Punchestown but it once again highlights the strength in depth of Willie Mullins' stable, and it should be run to script.

Take Bapaume for example. A Grade 1 winner at four and successful in the 2018 Prix la Barka Hurdle, he seems to have been reignited for running in these small-field conditions races over hurdles and fences of late.

If Bapaume runs to his rating he should be difficult to beat but his stablemate Bleu Berry shouldn't be overlooked.

Winner of the 2018 Coral Cup, Bleu Berry ran well after a two-year absence at the festival here last month and he could play a major role with the cobwebs blown away.

Speaking of pipe-openers, Sneezy Foster's Festival D'Ex and Lethal Steps should need this, both returning from over a year off respectively.

Festival D'Ex is a former Land Rover Bumper winner and remains lightly raced over hurdles. He could be a potential improver but a big performance is required to beat the Mullins pair.

What about Robin Des Foret, whose address had been at Clossutton until last week, when John McConnell went to £17,000 to buy the 11-year-old?

A place would appear to be his best hope while fellow veteran Snow Falcon might be best placed to give Mullins' duo a race, especially with Noel Meade's string running so well. Largy Trix and Wrong Direction don't appear to have much of a chance.

What they say

Denise Foster, trainer of Festival D'Ex and Lethal Steps
Both horses will have benefited from their break and we are looking forward to nice runs from them; they are in good form. Lethal Steps would prefer nicer ground while Festival D'Ex is a classy horse having won the Land Rover Bumper a couple of seasons back. He's still learning.

John McConnell, trainer of Robin Des Foret
We only bought him last week and this race was there, so we said we’d run him as there didn’t seem to be anything else for another while for him. It’s a small field, so we said we’d take our chance. He was bought to replace Some Neck, and if we were to have half as much fun with this lad as we did with Some Neck, he will be a good buy. Hopefully, he can live up to that. We are chancing our arm a little bit by running him so quickly, but we’ll freshen him up afterwards and see where we go. If we could sneak some place prize-money we’d be happy.

Noel Meade, trainer of Snow Falcon
He's getting older now but we just have to go for these races where he is getting in reasonably well. It doesn't matter if it's over hurdles or fences, he seems to be equally as effective. He is in good form and we're hoping he runs well. There is still plenty of spark in him and he showed that at Killarney. If he ran into the money we'd be happy.

Read more on Saturday's racing:

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Beverley is set to get racy as thrilled Jilly Cooper bids for debut triumph (Members' Club)

'He's not reached his ceiling' – Jason Weaver's leading Saturday fancy (Members' Club)

2.00 Beverley: 'You couldn't back her after that first run but she's certainly got ability'

2.20 Haydock: 'There are no worries' – El Astronaute ready for launch again in Achilles Stakes

2.40 Chester: what is it about Boardman that impressed our handicappers so much?

2.55 Haydock: who will peak in the Pinnacle Stakes? Get the lowdown from Tom Collins

3.10 Beverley: 'He's quite a nice animal' – Tipperary Sunset bids to live up to tall reputation

3.30 Haydock: Keith Melrose assesses who could prove a seven-furlong star in John of Gaunt (Members' Club)

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