Which Aintree Horses Can Back It Up At Punchestown?

The Grand National Festival at Aintree is in the books and the next major stop is Punchestown for the final major spring festival over jumps.

We're pinpointing four horses who ran over three days on Merseyside that may be spotted again at the Irish National Hunt season finale in Punchestown from Tuesday 29th April to Saturday 3rd May.

Impaire Et Passe

The first winner of the meeting and one of the most impressive too. Impaire Et Passe landed the EBC Group Manifesto Novices' Chase in good style under Paul Townend, kick-starting what proved an immense few days for trainer Willie Mullins.

The Isaac Souede & Simon Munir-owned gelding had skipped Cheltenham after chasing home Ballyburn at the Dublin Racing Festival in February and so remains a fresh horse.

He's 2-2 at Punchestown, including a Grade 1 win as a novice over hurdles. He backed up from Aintree to win at Sandown last April and, having travelled ominously well on Merseyside this time, he looks set to have another pop before the spring is done.

Murcia

Team Mullins made it 2-2 in the Grade 1s in Liverpool when Murcia won the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle in fine style under Townend.

She came clear of Dan Skelton's Live Conti, with market leader Puturhandstogether back in third.

She was only eighth behind that last-named rival in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham but, on 13lb better terms, was more than good enough to turn that form around.

This was her best effort in four starts since arriving from France and she could be set to sign off her season at Punchestown.

Salvator Mundi

Salvator Mundi was a convincing winner of the TrustATrader Top Novices' Hurdle, easily getting past Romeo Coolio in the closing stages.

That rival had finished third in the Supreme at Cheltenham behind Kopek Des Bordes and William Munny, but he couldn't uphold the form here.

Salvator Mundi had of course been fifth in the Cotswolds, but he stepped up markedly on that effort and his all-conquering trainer is keen for him to build on this success, where a slight change of tactics paid off.

"I was disappointed that it had taken him this long to win a Grade 1, but we changed tactics a little bit today and decided to let him get at it," said Mullins.

With his tail now up, another Grade 1 try at Punchestown looks likely.

Timmy Tuesday

Gordon Elliott saw Timmy Tuesday run a blinder in the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle on day three, as he finished second behind Deep Cove, the winner turning in a much-improved showing for trainer Christian Williams.

Timmy Tuesday was racing off a 13lb higher mark following his previous success at Down Royal, but showed there remains some scope for better still.

This contest was run over an extended three miles and his stamina was there to be seen.

He doesn't appear to have hit a ceiling just yet and, while his future may ultimately be over fences, he could pick up another win in this sphere.