On His Own© Photo Healy Racing
The transition of 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up On His Own to the cross-county ranks is just one of many fascinating aspects to Punchestown's card today.
To see a 162-rated performer compete in this sphere is highly unusual and it could be viewed as further evidence of the strength in depth of the Willie Mullins string.
Despite a tail-off in his form in his last few outings, On His Own would still be the stable star in the majority of other yards, but the Closutton outfit have several others for the top staying chases this term.
Patrick Mullins, who rode the now 11-year-old into fifth place in the Gold Cup back in March behind Coneygree, is likely in for a treat now if Andrea and Graham Wylie's charge takes to this discipline.
Winner of this event for the past two years, Love Rory is back again with Adrian Heskin once more in the saddle. Love Rory's trainer Enda Bolger has another strong contender here in Quantitativeeasing while Ballyboker Bridge and Current Exchange are others to note.
JP McManus, owner of Quantitativeeasing, and Gordon Elliott, handler of Current Exchange, combine earlier with a potential top-notch novice chaser in Free Expression a big player for the Gain Supporting Laois GAA Beginners Chase.
Said to have summered well at McManus' Martinstown Stud, Free Expression has the benefit of experience over larger obstacles from his point-to-point days and showed his worth on the racecourse proper already with a Grade Two victory over timber.
In what has the makings of a cracker, Free Expression comes up against a horse with a somewhat similar background in Outlander
That Mullins/Gigginstown House Stud contender also began life between the flags. The well-related triple bumper scorer is launched in chases on the back of a very smart level of performance in novice hurdles.
Earlier, another in the green and gold of McManus, Clonard Street (rated something around 100 on the Flat) is redirected to the winter game in the opening juvenile hurdle.
Willie Mullins has three of the six in the Listed Grabel Mares Hurdle. Gitane Du Berlais could be the pick under Ruby Walsh.
