Big guns in festival clash

Day two of the Punchestown Festival stages the highlight of the stellar meeting as stablemates Al Boum Photo and Kemboy put their respective championship credentials on the line.

The Coral Punchestown Gold Cup features six other worthy contenders, too, including a third from Willie Mullins’ stable in last year’s winner Bellshill.

It will nonetheless be a surprise if one or other of Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo or Betway Bowl Chase victor Kemboy does not prevail. However, choosing which is devilishly difficult – at a distance and track and on going which appears to present a level playing field for two outstanding chasers at the top of their game.

Between them, they have lost only three times over fences when achieving a clear round and have become largely unbeatable when avoiding mishap.

Marginally the likeliest scenario is that Al Boum Photo keeps tabs on Kemboy and then pounces at the last to win by a whisker to edge the pride of Closutton.

There is a little value to be had half-an-hour earlier when Walk Away also bids for Grade One spoils in the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle.

Henry de Bromhead’s second string will trail stablemate Minella Indo, and others, in the market – as he does in the ratings.

But it could be a different tale on the track.

Cheltenham winner Minella Indo does not yet set an insurmountable standard and the lightly-raced Walk Away is already a prime contender for novice-chase stardom next season on the back of his victories in a point-to-point and maiden hurdle and then a creditable shot at an Aintree Grade One.

He may just be able to complete his education over hurdles with a sneaky toplevel success before embarking on his true vocation in the autumn.