The National Hunt season is finally winding down but, as always, it ends with a bang at Kildare's hallowed venue.
In ways, Punchestown is more intriguing than Cheltenham - while Cheltenham is the ultimate test of a horse's credentials, we only find out if they can back up their Cotswolds appearance back on this side of the Irish Sea. Likewise, one-hit wonders have the opportunity to prove they're more than simply that.
The season's storylines have already been well established and with the big names set to be put away until the Autumn, it's our final chance to get a glimpse of the sport's biggest stars. Or most of them anyway.
The last few weeks have provided enough evidence to suggest we're in for a cracking few days of racing, with some fascinating battles set to play out around the Punchestown racecourse.
Ireland's answer to Cheltenham nearly always lives up to that billing. All things going to plan, here are for battles that could leave lasting impressions ahead of doing it all over again come the autumn.
Delta Work vs A Plus Tard
The last major honours to be claimed on Day One could come down to a battle between these two. The Gordon Elliot-trained Delta Work was heavily fancied to take the RSA Chase at Cheltenham last month, but despite failing to show up as well as expected the six-year-old still ran home in third place. Far from an embarrassing outcome.
A Plus Tard, on the other hand, won very handsomely - by 16 lengths - at the Festival, though that was in handicap company. This race, the three-mile Novices' Chase, represents a major step up in class. The Henry De Bromhead runner's form has turned out exceptionally well, though, as the five-year-old beat Duc Des Genievres, winner of the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival, earlier in the season.
So can Delta Work bounce back from a disappointing, yet respectable, performance in March or can A Plus Tard make a statement in his first Grade One run?
Bear in mind, an eye must also be kept on others, most notably the Ruby Walsh-ridden Getabird, but on current form, it looks like it will be a battle all the way to the line between the aforementioned.
Kemboy vs Al Boum Photo
First, there was Arkle and Millhouse; then, where was Kauto Star and Denman; now, it's left to this pair to carry the mantle. Illustrious company it may be for the Willie Mullins duo but with both only seven-years-olds, this could develop into quite the rivalry over the coming years.
Disregarding Kemboy's short race in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup - after unseating David Mullins at the first fence - the Supreme Racing club runner is unbeaten since falling at the first in last year's Irish Grand National. The nature of recent runs, despite shortcomings at Cheltenham, is noteworthy. At Leopardstown's Christmas meeting, he impressively overtook the rest of the field with a lap to go and cantered away from the pack, shocking even his all-knowing trainer.
That was followed up earlier this month when he hit the gas after the last to run clear of the King George VI winner, Clan Des Obeaux, in the Betway Bowl Chase. Those performances make Kemboy a slight favourite for the Punchestown Gold Cup over stablemate Al Boum Photo, the Gold Cup winner.
The Paul Townend ride, however, will draw attention not only for winning racing's biggest prize last month but for the manner of his last run at this venue. The soon-to-be champion jockey had the win at his mercy before, bizarrely, opting to run out just before the last. Naturally, causing followed.
The record since then has been two for two - flawless. Whatever way this one goes, it looks like it may only be an early installment of a generational battle. Fundamentally, we're the real winners.
Duc Des Genievres vs Defi Du Seuil
The English aren't too fond of coming over to Punchestown, their rationale being: If they can't beat the Irish on their home patch, how are they going to do it in Ireland? So when they do decide to venture across the Irish Sea, they must be respected. Especially when the runner they're bringing is a two-time Cheltenham winner.
Owned by JP McManus, Defi Du Seuil is coming off the back of two Grade One wins, the second of which was the JLT Novices' Chase in March. This week, Philip Hobbs will be readying him to fight it out with the Willie Mullins-trained Duc Des Genievres, Cheltenham's Arkle winner, in the Ryanair Novice Chase. So, the best two-mile novice chaser is taking on the best two-and-a-half-mile novice chaser over two miles, which many believe is Defi Du Seuil's ideal trip anyway. All the ingredients are in there for a barnstormer.
Despite the English raider's credentials, Punchestown has long belonged to Mullins. Even Gordon Elliot has struggled to halt Mullins' plundering of everything on offer year after year. He just knows how to prepare his horses for the season's climax. Meanwhile, Defi Du Seuil's sole run in Ireland was disappointing in last year's Irish Champion Hurdle.
That, however, can be disregarded given the form he's shown over the last few months. Both will be hard bet.
Buveur D'Air vs Supasundae
The title of most underrated star in the game has belonged to Supasundae for a while now. The Jessica Harrington champion had won Grade Ones at Aintree, Punchestown and Leopardstown and still hasn't acquired the 'greatness' tag. This Punchestown Champion Hurdle offers the latest opportunity for the nine-year-old to earn his status as a true legend, becoming the first horse since Hurricane Fly to retain his crown.
The hurdler out-worked Buveur D'Air to land the Aintree Hurdle last month, an achievement in itself, but for a horse that was on the cusp of a berth among the all-time legends before an ill-fated run in Cheltenham's Champion Hurdle, this represents a chance at redemption for Buveur D'Air. Moreover, it will Irish fans' first opportunity to watch the resident of Nicky Henderson's stables on Irish soil.
Melon and Apple's Jade will be waiting in the long grass, hoping to make their own statements, with Benie Des Dieux also likely to take a stab at Friday's showpiece. Any of the five is in with a shot of landing the spoils, but it's the battle between JP McManus and the Potts family, after their duel at Aintree, that will draw eyes.
For one horse, it's an opportunity to finally become great; for the other, it's an opportunity to regain that title.
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