The Punchestown Festival is regularly littered with equine stars and this year is no different.
With Dan Skelton landing the UK Trainers' Championship, Willie Mullins has decided to devote almost all of his vast resource to Punchestown this season as he aims to clinch a 20th Trainers' title in Ireland.
There are 12 Grade 1 prizes up for grabs across the five-day event in County Kildare, attracting some of the biggest names from both sides of the Irish Sea.
Marine Nationale
Two-time Cheltenham Festival winner Marine Nationale returns to the scene of one of his four top-level successes.
Barry Connell's stable star triumphed in this race 12 months ago but has been off the track ever since his disappointing showing at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Back on better ground, over a track he loves, he definitely has what it takes to serve it up to Il Etait Temps.
Gaelic Warrior
Gaelic Warrior produced arguably the best performance of the season so far when winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Wednesday sees him line-up for the Punchestown equivalent.
His roll of honour includes a three-mile Grade 1 at this festival over hurdles in 2023 and his tendency to favour jumping to his right might even mean that the County Kildare track will suit him more than Prestbury Park.
Kopek Des Bordes
Was it not for a final flight mistake, it is entirely possible that Kopek Des Bordes would be heading into this week off the back of an impressive Arkle success.
However, jumping is the name of the game and it is the reopposing Kargese that arrives here with an Arkle under her belt instead.
With just two starts over fences to his name, the Mullins-trained six-year-old should be better off for that experience and might just be capable of a lot better coming here.
Lossiemouth
The talented grey mare finally got her go in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, making no mistake to extend her unbeaten sequence at the Gloucestershire track.
Punchestown is also a venue where Lossiemouth excels, boasting an unblemished record in a hat-trick of visits.
At seven years old, there is a real chance that she is operating at her absolute peak and will be extremely difficult to beat if that is the case.
Wodhooh
Yet another talented mare, the only defeat of Wodhoo's hurdling career came at the hands of Lossiemouth, but it was not for a lack of effort.
Elliott's three-time Graded winner has one of the best attitudes in the game, always performing to a consistent level despite opposition, track, or ground.
Victory in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham last time out was the highlight of her career so far and, saved for this race specifically by connections, she will be fancied to end the campaign on a high this weekend.
