Confirmed runners and riders for day one of the Punchestown festival: Fact To File and Marine Nationale set for blockbuster clash

Champion Chase hero Marine Nationale will take on Ryanair Chase winner Fact To File in a mouthwatering William Hill Champion Chase (6.00) on Tuesday after declarations for day one of the Punchestown festival were made on Sunday.

Barry Connell's stable star landed his second Cheltenham Festival victory when bolting 18 lengths clear of Jonbon in last month's Champion Chase, while Fact To File also put in one of the performances of the week when winning the Ryanair Chase by nine lengths.

Having finished behind Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown twice, the Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old excelled when dropped back to two and a half miles but now faces a new question in dropping back to two miles for the first time over fences.

Henry de Bromhead has declared Captain Guinness, who landed the Champion Chase in 2024, with Rachael Blackmore set to take the ride, while Mullins is also responsible for El Fabiolo, who was last seen falling in the Melling Chase at Aintree.

He finished behind Senecia in the Webster Cup at Navan in March and Vincent Halley's giant killer will bid to repeat the feat, while dual Grade 1 winner Solness completes a high-class six-runner field.

Mullins stars including Kopek Des Bordes feature on undercard

Kopek Des Bordes will bid to back up his Supreme Novices' Hurdle victory and end the season un beatenCredit: Patrick McCann

Mullins, who was crowned champion jumps trainer in Britain for a second time on Saturday, holds a typically strong hand in all three Grade 1s and Supreme winner Kopek Des Bordes will bid to preserve his unbeaten record in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle (4.15). Aintree Grade 1 winner Salvator Mundi, Irancy and Karbau will also represent Closutton.

The champion trainer also holds the key to the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (4.50) with five runners including Brown Advisory winner Lecky Watson. He will renew rivalry with stablemate Ballyburn, who will be ridden by Paul Townend, while Grade 1 winners Champ Kiely and Impaire Et Passe have also been declared along with the Tony Bloom-owned Ile Atlantique.

Danny Gilligan takes the ride on last year's Albert Bartlett winner Stellar Story for Elliott, while De Bromhead relies on Slade Steel and Gorgeous Tom. Don't Rightly Know represents British trainer Polly Gundry and will be ridden by Harry Cobden.

KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle runners and riders (4.15)

Fleetfoot Keith Donoghue
Irancy Mark Walsh
Karbau Danny Mullins
Kopek Des Bordes Paul Townend
Salvator Mundi Patrick Mullins
Whinney Hill Sam Ewing

Paddy Power: 2-5 Kopek Des Bordes, 3 Salvator Mundi, 7 Irancy, 16 Karbau, 100 Whinney Hill, 150 Fleetfoot

Dooley Insurance Champion Novice Chase runners and riders (4.50)

Ballyburn Paul Townend
Champ Kiely Danny Mullins
Gorgeous Tom Darragh O’Keeffe
Ile Atlantique Patrick Mullins
Impaire Et Passe JJ Slevin
Lecky Watson Sean O'Keeffe
Slade Steel Rachael Blackmore
Stellar Story Danny Gilligan

Paddy Power: 5-4 Ballyburn, 9-4 Lecky Watson, 5 Impaire Et Passe, 12 Gorgeous Tom, Stellar Story, 16 Ile Atlantique, Slade Steel, 25 Champ Kiely, 50 Don’t Rightly Know

William Hill Champion Chase runners and riders (6.00)

Captain Guinness Rachael Blackmore
El Fabiolo Paul Townend
Fact To File Mark Walsh
Marine Nationale Sean Flanagan
Senecia Philip Enright
Solness JJ Slevin

Paddy Power: 10-11 Fact To File, 7-4 Marine Nationale, 8 El Fabiolo, 11 Solness, 18 Captain Guiness, 50 Senecia

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