WILLIE Mullins has the favourite for 10 of the 12 Grade 1 races at the Punchestown Festival and six of them are odds-on.

The five-day meeting is 10 days away but Paddy Power has taken the unusual step of pricing up all the Grade 1 races. The prices could be misleading as Mullins has given many of his stars multiple entries and, this year, there is the added complication that the champion trainer could divert some of his top class performers to British targets.

Mullins has already confirmed that El Fabiolo will run in the Grade 1 Celebration Chase at Sandown next Saturday in preference to Punchestown’s two-mile Champion Chase three days later.

Last year, Mullins saddled nine Grade 1 winners at the Punchestown Festival, the same as he had managed in 2021 and 2022.

This year his ‘bankers’ appear to be Ballyburn, Galopin Des Champs, Gaelic Warrior, State Man and Lossiemouth - all of which won at the Cheltenham Festival.

Galopin Des Champs is expected to be taken on by last year’s winner Fastorslow in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup on the Wednesday of the meeting, while Shishkin and Corach Rambler are likely British challengers.

State Man looks to have Cheltenham runner-up Irish Point to beat in Friday’s Boodles Champion Hurdle. Ballyburn also looks unbeatable in that day’s Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle.

Irish Point’s owners Robcour look set to have a good meeting, with their two Cheltenham winners Slade Steel and Teahupoo likely to be hard to beat in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle and Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle respectively.

El Fabiolo’s Sandown plan could see Nicky Henderson switch Jonbon to Punchestown for the William Hill Champion Chase, a race expected to feature Captain Guinness and Dinoblue.

Nicky Henderson is planning to send his Aintree Grade 1 winner Sir Gino on the final day of Punchestown for the Ballymore Champion 4YO Hurdle, a day when Lossiemouth should stroll to success in the EBF Mares’ Champion Hurdle.

Lossiemouth’s owners Rich and Susannah Ricci can also expect to collect a trophy after Gaelic Warrior runs in Thursday’s Barberstown Castle Novice Chase.

One of the most interesting Grade 1 races of the week could be the Race & Stay Champion Bumper. The Mullins-trained Jasmin De Vaux will be attempting to follow up his Cheltenham success but Gordon Elliott saddled the runner-up, third and sixth in that race and all three - Romeo Coolio, Jalon D’oudairies and The Yellow Clay - are entered here. Barry Connell’s William Munny, unbeaten in two starts, will also have his supporters.

Willie Mullins >>14-15

Entries >>79