ONCE again, despite the fact that one front may be slightly weakened because Willie Mullins is challenging on several fronts, the Punchestown Festival is shaping up to be a cracking week.

Potential highlight of the week? The Bibby Financial Services Ireland (this is the third year of it, so we should be used to it by now) Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday, the re-match between Don Cossack (he’s at home) and Cue Card.

Oh there are scores all right. Don Cossack fell in the King George that Cue Card won when he might/probably would have won it had he stood up, Cue Card fell in the Gold Cup that Don Cossack won when he might have won it had he stood up.

This is not a decider though. Gordon Elliott’s horse had Cue Card 26 lengths behind him in second place when he won the Melling Chase at Aintree last year, and he had him 15 lengths behind him in fourth place when he won the Punchestown Gold Cup last year. Cue Card is a different horse this year after his wind operation, but it’s a home game for Don Cossack, he can travel by road to the venue, not by boat. Also, the Gigginstown horse hasn’t been to Aintree and back this year, whereas Cue Card has. It’s advantage Cossack.