Chasing superstars clash as jumps season hots up at Punchestown on Wednesday

FOR many, the Irish National Hunt season officially starts at Punchestown on Wednesday.

The Irish Daily Star Chase has been a favourite on the autumn calendar for nineteen seasons now — and Wednesday's contest looks a cracking renewal.

Michael O’Leary’s scaled back Gigginstown House operation are not the force of old, but they love this race and are chasing an incredible 11th win in the Grade 3, having captured the very first renewal in 2005 with subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition.

The 2023 Gold Cup third Conflated represents them here and gives eight-time winning trainer Gordon Elliott a very strong chance of picking up a race he also won twice with 2016 Gold Cup winner Don Cossack.

But it’s another former Gold Cup winner who is fancied most to roll back the years this afternoon for the Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore partnership.

MINELLA INDO (4.10) enjoyed his finest hour in the Cotswolds back in 2021 and although his form since then has been patchy, he does go well fresh and will enjoy the good ground that’s likely in store at Punchestown today.

His lack of recent successes means he gets 6lbs off Conflated and with time running out on his career, the suspicion is that De Bromhead will have him finely tuned for a race he has himself won twice in 2016 and 2018.

Both Conflated and Minella Indo have something to prove having both run poorly on their final starts of last season.

Conflated pulled up at Aintree when likely still feeling the effects of Cheltenham, while Minella Indo never got going in the Gold Cup and was pulled up very early on.

They’re two very good horses and it should be a real early season treat for jump fans, with the marginal vote going to Minella Indo on the basis that he’s won first time out before and may be more tuned up for this than Conflated.

"Conflated is in good form, but will come on for the run," said the Cullentra handler.

"He needed the run when starting off last season in Down Royal and will need the run even more this time. We need to get a run into him to see where we are with a view to going back to Down Royal again."

Elliott also runs Delta Work.

The one-time high-class chaser has become a Cross Country specialist, winning the Cheltenham Festival version for the past two seasons.

He was last seen unseating at Aintree in the Grand National and both those races look like his targets again this season.

Elliott said: "Delta Work needs some rain overnight. We might tip away in a few cross-country races with him and head back to Cheltenham again."

Bizarrely, the all conquering Willie Mullins stable has never won this Irish Daily Star-sponsored €28,500 prize and although Fighter Allen has a lot to find with the big guns based on ratings, he does have race fitness on his side having won at Sligo last month.

The support card at Punchestown is strong, although a stone bruise has denied punters a chance to see the declared A Dream To Share — who is now a non runner.

The five-year-old was the best bumper horse in training last season, winning at Cheltenham and here in Apri and would have been hard to oppose.

In his absence the race might fall into the path of FASCILE MODE (1.50), who himself was a good horse in bumpers last year for Tom Mullins.

He impressed on his debut at Leopardstown over Christmas but struggled afterwards and hurdling might be the making of him.

Willie Mullins also runs a potential future champion in the JP McManus silks in the Grade 3 Novice Chase.

HERCULE DU SEUIL (3.35) is chasing a fifth win on the bounce having picked up four chases during the summer and the winning streak doesn’t look like ending here.

He won a Grade 2 over hurdles at Fairyhouse over Easter and could well develop into a strong Arkle Chase contender as the season progresses.

The Mares Handicap Hurdle is much more tricky to assess but BANNTOWN GIRL (2.25) sets a decent standard off top weight and with top amateur Rob James claiming 7lbs, she’s a chance of atoning for being a beaten favourite at Navan last time out.