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.