Who To Follow On Day One At Punchestown - 26/04/22

Willie Mullins has had a fantastic season to date and things could finish with a bang at the Punchestown festival with plenty of his big guns set to have one more outing before the end of the term.

In the opening race he fields Dinoblue, Grangee and Instant who all have strong chances off the back and then in the first Grade One of the day he has the top two in the market with Sir Gerhard and Dysart Dynamo.

He has four chances in the Handicap Hurdle with Hybery, Tempo Chapter Two, Tax For Max and Farout all in with chances, especially the latter on the best of his form.

Other big shouts for the Closutton maestro include Energumene and Chacun Pour Soi in the Champion Chase, Rocco Ray and Elle Klassycco in the bumper and Capodanno in the Champion Novice Chase.

Mullins heads into the event in fine form with 13 winners from 53 runners over the last two weeks which sees him pose a 25% strike rate.

Mark Walsh has been one of the leading riders in Ireland throughout the season and on the first day of the Punchestown festival he has a handful of smart rides.

In the opener he sits on Dinoblue who bounced back to form in a big way last time out when a close fourth in a Grade One and can go close again now in Listed company.

He again sits in the fav in the Grade B Handicap Hurdle with Glan looking to make it back to back wins having took a big fielded event last time out.

Other nice shouts for the rider include Andy Dufresne in the Champion Chase and Capodanno in the Champion Novice Chase.