SOME bemoaned that Fact To File was run in the Ryanair Chase as opposed to being handed a crack at the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month, but a target on the complete opposite end of the distance spectrum has been confirmed for the top-class talent at next week’s Punchestown Festival.

The breathtaking, nine-length Cheltenham winner is being readied up for a two-mile clash with Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Marine Nationale in Tuesday’s William Hill Champion Chase. That means a return to the scene of his excellent John Durkan Memorial Chase victory from earlier in the campaign.

Solness, a dual Grade 1 winner at Leopardstown earlier in the campaign, is also in the mix to bounce back from a disappointing showing in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham, while Willie Mullins has four other possible entries - three of which are declared for Sandown today.

Frank Berry, racing manager to J.P. McManus, said: “This is the only entry Fact To File has at Punchestown. I believe he’s in good form. It won’t be easy taking on the Champion Chase winner, but we’re looking forward to seeing how he gets on. It will be very interesting.”

The McManus camp are also setting their sights on victory in the other top senior chasing Grade 1 of the week, Wednesday’s Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup.

Spillane’s Tower, who skipped the Cheltenham Festival and was withdrawn from the Bowl at Aintree due to drying ground, will bid to follow up his win in last year’s Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase at the same meeting - this time at the expense of Galopin Des Champs, Banbridge and Monty’s Star, among others.

“Spillane’s Tower is in good order and that’s the plan to go there,” said Berry.

“The rain will help and he’s a fresh horse going there. It’ll be a hot race, but he’s in good form.”

Star novice

The same owner’s Majborough was deemed a banker of the week for many in the Arkle at Cheltenham, only to spurn his chance with wayward jumping when it mattered. He was still only beaten three-quarters of a length in third, though, and looks set to be given an opportunity to make amends in Thursday’s Grade 1 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase.

Berry said: “He’s on song for the two-mile novice chase. It was a little unfortunate at Cheltenham what happened, but he still ran a good race and he was fine afterwards, not a bother on him. Willie [Mullins] is happy with him and he’ll go there, all being well.”

Over the smaller obstacles, the McManus team could take aim at Kopek Des Bordes in Tuesday’s two-mile KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) or wait until an extended two and a half miles on Friday for the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) with Colm Murphy’s exciting youngster Lovely Hurling. He impressed many when winning a Naas maiden hurdle last time.

The same connections’ recent Fairyhouse Grade 2 winner Irancy, trained by Willie Mullins, only has the one entry so far in the shorter option on day one.

Berry said: “They’re both in good form. You’d love to be going there with another run in Lovely Hurling. He is also in the two and a half, but they’re both intended runners so we’ll see in the next few days.”

It’s undecided whether the Gordon Elliott-trained Mersey Novices’ Hurdle winner, Honesty Policy, will take his chance in the three-mile Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) on Wednesday or the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle two days later.

“He has a couple of entries, at three miles and two and a half,” said Berry. “It’s a bit up in the air, but we’ll monitor the weather.”