Dry weather forecast for Punchestown Winter Festival this weekend

Some of Ireland’s finest equine talent will be suited and booted at Punchestown Racecourse this weekend as the Irish jumps season ramps up a gear with two Grade 1 races.

The weather forecast for Saturday and Sunday is for mainly dry weather. 

Both the highest rated hurdler and chaser in Ireland are primed for the Punchestown Winter Festival over the next two days as State Man begins his campaign in the Grade 1 Unibet Morgiana Hurdle on Saturday while Galopin Des Champs seeks some Punchestown Gold Cup revenge in a vintage Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase on Sunday. 

Racegoers are in for a feast of action across 16 races over three different disciplines at Punchestown as there is also some Cross Country action at the Kildare venue on Sunday afternoon. 

Willie Mullins supplies the two previous Grade 1 winners in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle as State Man is joined by his talented stable companion Echoes In Rain. 

Going in search of a second successive Morgiana Hurdle win, State Man will be the odds on favourite to give Mullins a 12th success in this race in 13 years with only superstar Constitution Hill managing to keep State Man from the winners enclosure last season. 

Paul Townend will once again renew his association with State Man. The multiple champion jockey commented: “This is the most exciting time of year and I really like the idea of what they have done to put this weekend on and bringing the two Grade 1 races together. State Man had a brilliant season last year apart from running into Constitution Hill. Hopefully we can get on the board in the Grade 1 races and look forward to the rest of the winter after that.”

Gordon Elliott provides the sole opposition to Mullins with Pied Piper and Fils d’Oudairies facing a sizeable task in Saturday’s feature but their trainer goes into the weekend full of confidence on the back of training a mammoth 29 winners in the last three weeks. 

Two-time Stayers Hurdle winner Flooring Porter is a classy recruit to fences this season and Gavin Cromwell will be hoping his stable star can add to his almost flawless chasing debut at Cheltenham when lining up in the Grade 2 Liam & Valerie Brennan Florida Pearl Novice Chase. 
Flooring Porter will face six rivals including the intriguing Churchstonewarrior for Jonathan Sweeney. The eight-year-old was a Grade 2 winner over fences last season and will attempt to snare another grade contest before losing his novice status next month. The lightly raced Quilixios for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore is another fascinating runner. 
“He is an older and wiser horse and a little bit more manageable nowadays so we’ll give it a go,” Cromwell said of Flooring Porter. “It is a good big galloping track so hopefully he’ll be ok. He has really taken to chasing and loves it. He has plenty of scope for a horse that is not very big and hopefully the future is bright for him.”

The roll of honour for Sunday’s John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase is full of household names and some memorable encounters but the rematch of Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs and Punchestown Gold Cup victor Fastorslow could be an early season clash of the ages. 
“The John Durkan Chase back at Punchestown was the obvious place for Fastorslow to start off and we are really looking forward to it,” Brassil said. 
“It will be different ground and a short trip than the Punchestown Gold Cup but we are going there with a nice horse and hoping for a nice run. We are obviously facing the might of the Mullins battalion but it is great to have a horse like him and we’d be hoping he is still improving and getting better with age.”
Fastorslow will face a Closutton quintet as Willie Mullins saddles five in Sunday’s feature race. Along with Galopin Des Champs, Mullins will saddle Appreciate It, Asterion Forlonge, Blue Lord an Stattler in the highly rated field. 
“Galopin Des Champs won this race last year and while it is two weeks earlier this year that shouldn’t be any problem,” Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father Willie, reported on Friday. 
“He was obviously knocked off his perch by Fastorslow at the Punchestown Festival so we have to try and level that up. I think probably coming back in trip will suit our horse more so hopefully that can help turn the tables.”
Mullins continued: “Asterion Forlonge was second to Klassical Dream at the Punchestown Festival and was going very well in this race two years ago when he unseated so he is always a contender. I ride Appreciate It who did disappoint us a little last season even though he ran well at the top level. I think he is better than his form and he has to have a squeak. Stattler will probably find the trip on the short side and Blue Lord is another Grade 1 winner who makes this race hugely competitive.” 

Mullins’ sole representative in the Grade 2 BetVictor Craddockstown Novice Chase is Listowel winner Uncle Phil. John Ryan’s Lucid Dreams will seek to continue his progression through the ranks with a sixth win this year, while the Gordon Elliott-trained Imagine comes in after winning a Fairyhouse beginners chase earlier in the month. 
The Pigsback.com Risk Of Thunder Chase has attracted eight runners for the three mile Cross Country Chase including track specialists Vital Island and Singing Banjo. 
Weekend and daily tickets are available for the Punchestown Winter Festival, one of the biggest weekends in the entire jump racing season where as well as the 16 races across two days, there will be delicious dining packages, live music and family entertainment and more. 

Conor O’Neill, CEO of Punchestown Racecourse, said: “After the April festival this winter weekend is our next priority. We have elevated the race day experience by consolidating quality graded racing, enhancing the food, beverage, entertainment and transport on offer for all ages. 
“However, the most important aspect of the weekend is value. We have responded to feedback and there is fantastic value on tickets. What we need now is for people to support this move and secure these deals for the future by coming racing to Punchestown this weekend.”