Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle (Wednesday)

Pretty much anything that could go wrong early did go wrong for Kaid d’Authie in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. After setting off at the rear of the field, he jumped the first almost too well, ending up into the back of between stablemates Kappa Jy Pyke and Kel Histoire. Having gotten a fright and been set alight, he then didn’t jump with any real fluency and even had to swerve a little to his right upon landing at the second.

In short, he couldn’t establish any rhythm, got behind and was already going to need everything to fall right for him to make any sort of impact in a top-class Grade 1 like that.

It bears remembering that Kaid d’Authie was actually cut to 10/1 for the Supreme after winning a maiden hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. It’s not as if there wasn’t a bit of substance to that race either, with runner-up Koktail Divin a ready maiden hurdle winner/solid fourth in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree since, while the third, Krak, won the €45,000 Easter Handicap Hurdle at Cork last Sunday. The fourth also won a maiden hurdle.

J.P. McManus’ French recruit has a Punchestown entry over his ideal mid-range trip, and a small field size would be a help to get his confidence back over hurdles.

There doesn’t typically be a huge turnout for this event, and Mullins has won four of the last seven renewals.

Of his other six entries here, five have been to other spring festivals, while Kaid d’Authie has been allowed to freshen up. He has a little to find on ratings but there might just be several factors coming together for him.

Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final (Wednesday)

Gavin Cromwell knows what it takes to win this valuable series final, having struck here last year with Backtonormal, and Champagne Jury might be able to make it wins in back-to-back runnings.

A smart bumper winner at Naas in January, he emerged with credit from his second at Leopardstown on hurdling debut - and the form has been significantly enhanced since.

He made 4/9 winning favourite Honesty Policy work hard before failing by only a length and a quarter. That improving rival went on to win the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle on his next start at Aintree, so there was clearly no shame in this defeat.

One of the attractive parts of his profile for a race like this is that having not collected last time, he avoids having to carry a 5lb penalty.

Some of his rivals have won twice over hurdles and must shoulder a 7lb penalty. He’s unexposed and may well have more to come.

Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion Bumper (Wednesday)

Looking at the early markets, it feels as though not enough respect is being paid to Cheltenham Festival heroine Bambino Fever in the Grade 1 Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion Bumper. She could easily have been expected to be shorter than her current odds of 3/1.

Willie Mullins has won 10 of the last 13 runnings of this race, two of the last three winners were following up a victory in the Champion Bumper and there have also been examples of mares striking here in recent years, like Fayonagh and Colreevy. Those are all positives for the Jukebox Jury five-year-old.

The Dublin Racing Festival scorer has been flawless throughout her career, and the market was strong on her chances on the day at Cheltenham. She still might not be fully respected given her CV.

Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Wednesday)

Freshness could count for plenty in this year’s Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup, and Spillane’s Tower looks ready to make his connections’ patience pay off - especially given how this race looks likely to cut up badly (four of his seven possible rivals declared today at Sandown).

Nick Rockett had a hard race in winning the Grand National and this would be a turnaround of just 25 days. While it would be disrespectful to be overly critical of a great like Galopin Des Champs, he also has to bounce back from what connections feel was an off-colour display in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and he’s been beaten on each of his last four starts at Punchestown.

Banbridge didn’t fire in the Gold Cup, while Monty’s Star had his chances dented by being hampered in the same event.

Jimmy Mangan and J.P. McManus didn’t run their dual Grade 1 winner to any of the spring festivals in Britain, kept fresh since disappointing in the King George at Kempton and pulled out of his intended Aintree assignment due to drying ground. The rainfall in recent days won’t be a problem for the high-class seven-year-old, who got within half a length of Fact To File around here in this season’s John Durkan. All told, this feels like an ideal set-up for Spillane’s Tower.

Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle (Thursday)

Persistent rain that turned conditions soft to heavy at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday meant that Sixandahalf was taken out of the Grade 1 Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle last week, but an even more attractive opportunity probably lies in store for her at Punchestown.

Gavin Cromwell’s dual-purpose performer makes plenty of appeal here, provided conditions aren’t too testing. She hasn’t been overly burdened with racing, with only two runs over hurdles.

Sent off the 85/40 favourite for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, she traded as low as 1/25 in-running only to be collared late on by half a length in second. The form at the front end of that Cheltenham contest hasn’t been working out too well, but she looks to be nicely down in class here and connections could opt for different tactics.