UPDATED 2:40PM, APR 27 2021
An unraced four-year-old trained by Willie Mullins has slipped into the closing bumper (7.35) at Punchestown on Tuesday as a first reserve and been heavily backed.
It is yet to be confirmed who will take the ride on the Ballylinch Stud-owned
Glowing Account, who has tumbled into a general 2-1 shot (from 7) since his place in the race was finalised.
Glowing Account s stablemate Hara Kiri, who was favourite until this morning s market move, has Patrick Mullins aboard but will need to settle better than when finishing third at Gowran Park in January.
Elsewhere, the money is coming for Allaho before his clash with stablemate Chacun Pour Soi in today s William Hill Champion Chase (5.25) at Punchestown.
They took the first upsides at breakneck speed and it continued thereafter.
Allaho led marginally over the second under Blackmore, then Chacun Poir Soi took the third and fourth in front as Townend switched his mount outside. It was like watching two flyweight boxers exchange a flurry of early punches.
As Allaho began to feel the pinch on his first start at the minimum trip over fences, First Flow was then squeezed on to Chacun Pour Soi’s shoulder, with Nube Negra watching them all they way on the inner under Harry Skelton. One thing is for sure, there would be no freebies here.
Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1) | 3m½f | 5yo+ | RTE2/RTV
This is no ordinary novice chase; this is extraordinary stuff. We get a sneak peek of what next season s Cheltenham Gold Cup might look like 11 months ahead of plan as Envoi Allen and Monkfish go head to head in what promises to be the showdown of the season.
They have raced a total of 21 times and have 18 wins between them. Monkfish has already won four Grade 1s, Envoi Allen has five. The official handicapper thinks there is 1lb between them at present with the Henry de Bromhead-trained seven-year-old marginally better in his book.
William Hill Champion Chase (Grade 1) | 2m | 5yo+ | RTE2/RTV
Willie Mullins is eager to see if breathtaking Ryanair Chase winner Allaho has the necessary pace to be one the become one of the top two-mile chasers in training next season, suggesting that the outcome of Tuesday s scintillating William Hill Champion Chase will have a bearing on the seven-year-old s 2021-22 campaign.
Cheveley Park s ace performer produced a dominant front-running display when bolting up at the Cheltenham Festival and is set for his first chasing start over shorter than 2m4f.
Rachael Blackmore, who took no prisoners in that 12-length demolition job, maintains the partnership with the 2020 RSA Chase third.
UPDATED 2:36PM, APR 25 2021
Irish champion jockey Paul Townend will make a timely return to the saddle on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival after being booked to ride in each of Tuesday s three Grade 1s, providing a huge boost for the Willie Mullins team ahead of the biggest week in Irish jump racing.
Townend has been sidelined since injuring his foot after falling from Egality Mans at Fairyhouse earlier in the month, an injury which forced him to miss the Grand National meeting at Aintree, but he has been declared fit to ride at the five-day extravaganza.
The 30-year-old’s return comes at the perfect time as he is coming under increasing pressure from Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National winner Rachael Blackmore in the race to be Ireland’s leading jockey this season.