JUMPS fans are set for an early season treat on Thursday at Punchestown with the Grade 3 Daily Star Chase shaping up to be a top class renewal.

Minella Rocco, Carlingford Lough, Outlander, Sub Lieutenant, Disko, Road To Respect and Zabana are among 10 entries for the three mile, one furlong contest.

Four of the above-mentioned horses are owned by Gigginstown House Stud and so are unlikely all to run but one horse set to line up is Minella Rocco. Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding stayed on stoutly to take second place in last season’s Gold Cup.

“The plan is to get back to have another crack at the Gold Cup,” O’Neill said. “He has only won one race over fences so we need to get him a bit more experience and we’re happy to start off in Punchestown. He ran a cracker in the Gold Cup last year when you consider his preparation going into the race.”

Earlier on the card the Grade 3 Buck House Novice Chase may provide an early sighter into this year’s emerging novice chasers. Death Duty won on his chase debut and he is among 12 entries which also include stablemates Tombstone and Brelade, who both finished second on their first starts over fences.

Jessica Harrington’s Woodland Opera, who under a new rule qualifies as a novice until the beginning of December, could take advantage of that technicality returning to the scene of his Punchestown Festival triumph last term.

Elsewhere on the seven-race card, the highly touted Samcro could make his hurdles debut in the opening two-mile maiden hurdle. Gordon Elliott’s horse was unbeaten in three bumpers last season and is already on the minds of many punters looking towards Cheltenham.

Thursday at Punchestown is John Shortt Legends Day. Full details about the auction taking place and legends charity race are on A15.