The Grade 1 Punchestown Champion Chase is the highlight among three top tier races on the opening day of Ireland’s curtain call jumps festival. With multiple Cheltenham form lines crossing, we preview the race below and give our verdict.
Was Ryanair Chase Form Fact or Fiction?
The first question any of us must answer after a scintillating performance such as Fact To File’s in the Ryanair Chase is whether to believe our eyes. So startlingly impressive was Willie Mullins and JP McManus’s star that he arguably put up the performance of the week, despite the latter also owning the Gold Cup winner.
Fact To File stepped up readily for the drop back to 2m4½f, as he couldn’t live with stablemate Galopin Des Champs staying power over 3m. There is no intermediate championship at Punchestown, so Mullins has dropped him even further in distance to 2m. He looks to have the cruising speed and jumping ability to do it, but he is 0/2 over the trip in his career (both bumpers).
Nationale Hero Looks to Hold Up Divisional Form
Because he kickstarted one of the most emotional of Cheltenham Festival hours, it was perhaps forgotten just how electric Marine Nationale was in the 2025 Queen Mother Champion Chase. His was a tribute victory to Michael O’Sullivan, but the manner of it was compelling, even with his main challenger falling at the last.
Quilixios, said capsizer, would have had to have found plenty to live with Barry Connell’s star up the Cheltenham hill. Nevertheless, the pair, and thereafter Marine Nationale, were well clear of the remainder, the margin of victory ultimately coming in at 18 lengths. The way his results have gradually improved suggests he only peaked at Cheltenham and could well do so again here.
Could El Still Be Fab Without Jumping Errors?
Just over 12 months ago, El Fabiolo was a 2/9 favourite for Champion Chase glory. He has since failed to complete in three of his five starts, effectively falling in all of them with his mistake in that Champion Chase so bad that Paul Townend almost immediately pulled him up.
Two more falls have followed, including at Aintree since, with Willie Mullins even entering him in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle. However, he is given one more chance over his fences, which could be a stroke of genius if pulled off, or simply another accident waiting to happen.
Could Outsiders Front Run Their Odds?
The veteran of the field, Captain Guinness has never been known for his front-running exploits. However, after running his best race of the season when third, albeit distantly, to Marine Nationale at Cheltenham, Rachael Blackmore may learn from the exploits of both Solness and Senecia this season.
The former blazed his way to two Grade 1s at Leopardstown with tearaway front-running, while Senecia did so at Grade 2 level at Navan over 2m4½f, beating El Fabiolo no less. Solness is particularly interesting if he can shrug off others’ attentions at the front end though, as he was not able to do so at Cheltenham, but still finished an admirable fourth in the Champion Chase.
Best Punchestown Festival Betting Offers
Right now, you can get £40 in free bets after you bet 5p with SkyBet, one of the best welcome offers around. This, as well as the others below, can all be claimed in time for the Punchestown Champion Chase, and the rest of the meeting from Tuesday to Saturday.
| Bookmaker | Offer |
| SkyBet | Bet 5p Get £40 in Free Bets |
| Paddy Power | Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets |
| William Hill | Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets |
| Bet365 | Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets |
Punchestown Champion Chase Tip
Though Fact To File and MARINE NATIONALE look extremely closely matched in terms of ability, the latter gets the verdict at the greater odds, especially as he was crowned this division’s current king at the Cheltenham Festival. The manner of his Champion Chase success was overshadowed by the sentiment behind it, but he announced himself as a serious force that day and Fact To File has more to prove at this distance than first appears, having never run over 2m over obstacles, and ended with a 0/2 record in bumpers at the trip. Solness is the most interesting of the remaining quartet if he can get into a clear lead.
- Marine Nationale
- Fact To File
- Solness
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