Punchestown Festival ‘monitoring situation’ after latest going update as Willie Mullins readies his best horses

PUNCHESTOWN Festival bosses are ‘monitoring the situation’ with more rain forecast ahead of day one of the end-of-season bash.

Willie Mullins is readying his big guns including Galopin Des Champs, Ballyburn and Lossiemouth for the five-day Festival.

The crowds will be out in force to watch Willie Mullins clean up at the Punchestown FestivalSportsfile

But with the track currently good to yielding, good in places, a further 15mm of rain could fall before racing begins at 2.30pm on Tuesday.

There are three Grade 1s on day one with Supreme winner Slade Steel in action in the 3.40pm against Cheltenham runner-up Mystical Power.

Mullins has the 2-1 favourite Dinoblue in the William Hill Champion Chase at 5.25pm while Henry de Bromhead’s Monty’s Star heads the market for the 3m1f Novice Chase at 6pm.

Closutton boss Mullins became the first Irish trainer in 70 years to win the British jumps trainer championship at Sandown on Saturday.

And he has made the Punchestown Festival his own in recent years.

But racecourse bosses will be keen to ensure the best ground possible across the week after the uncertain forecast and latest going update.

A statement from IHRB on Monday morning read: “Following 3.5mm of rain overnight, @punchestownrace (Tuesday- Saturday) remains good to yielding, good in places.

“Currently raining with 3-5mm (approx) forecast up to lunchtime. Further rain (5-10mm approx) forecast overnight. Continuing to monitor the situation.”

British trainer Anthony Honeyball posted a video from the racecourse with the sun shining down on Sunday saying: “We’ve arrived – Portugal or Punchestown though?”

While the forecast shows it currently raining at the track not far outside Dublin, it looks unlikely any further rain will be too heavy.

A worst-case scenario predicts 3.4mm of rain after midday.

However there could be up to 3mm between 5-9am tomorrow, with the overall outlook for the day ‘cloudy’.

Dual Gold Cup monster Galopin Des Champs will be back in action in Wednesday’s Gold Cup.

Sadly, he should have been lining up against Nicky Henderson’s adored chaser Shishkin.

But the fan favourite sadly died after a terrible accident in his stable on Sunday night, plunging racing into mourning.

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