The Punchestown Festival has arrived and day one looks set to be a cracker. Willie Mullins successfully retained his British Trainers title last weekend, and the Irishman can now turn his attention to bowing out of the National Hunt season in style on home soil.

Kopek Des Bordes, Ballyburn and Fact To File are likely to be a popular treble among punters, but I’m taking two of the three on. Here are my tips for day one at Punchestown…

15.40 - Irish Panther 11/1

An incredibly competitive handicap to kick off proceedings and Lark In The Mornin has been backed in the market to bounce back to his form of last year. However, there’s value elsewhere and Irish Panther has a great each-way chance.

He was never truly put in the race in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, taking the wider route and being held up, but still managed to finish 10th in a bunched finish behind Kargese. Irish Panther has some good form in the book and, with a bit of luck in running, could be primed to finally enjoy his day in the sun.

16.15 – Kopek Des Bordes 2/5

Kopek Des Bordes produced one of the most taking performances of the meeting at the Cheltenham Festival and, after being afforded a short break, he will prove very hard to beat in the Champion Novice Hurdle.

He didn’t jump well in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle but was smart enough to put himself right at some of his obstacles before powering up the hill. The gelding has a serious engine and it is hard to see stablemate Salvator Mundi reversing the form, with Irancy favoured to follow him home instead.

16.50 – Impaire Et Passe 4/1

Ballyburn’s jumping was simply too bad to forgive in the Brown Advisory and although he’ll have been schooled plenty since, he can’t be trusted. Although Lecky Watson is unbeaten this season and Stellar Story produced a good performance at the Cheltenham Festival despite his yard’s form at the meeting, Impaire Et Passe is taken to land the Champion Novice Chase.

I think the seven-year-old should relish stepping up to 3m and he has jumped well already this season. Impaire Et Passe’s most disappointing performances appear to have all been saved for Punchestown so I’m willing to overlook his third-place finish behind Ballyburn in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase in February.

18.00 – Marine Nationale 9/4

There is no doubt that Fact To File is a superb horse. He’s a great jumper, travels very strongly and is capable of getting his rivals off the bridle in a matter of seconds. But does he want a drop down to 2m? I’m not too sure.

Instead, Marine Nationale will be my play at the prices. He absolutely dotted up in the Champion Chase and even if Jonbon had not made his string of errors, he would have needed to be at his best to peg back Barry Connell’s stable star. The eight-year-old jumped well that day and found plenty for pressure, which could prove key in what is likely to be a tactical affair out in front.

Punchestown Festival Day One runners and riders

14.30: Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Chase

1 Grange Island, Mr M J O'Connor

2 Cloudy Tuesday, Mr Turlough O'connor

3 Knockiel Synge, Miss Georgie Benson

4 Dromleigh, Miss L Costello

5 Fralimonti Bilbery, Mr Jack Hendrick

6 Grageen, Mr P W Gleeson

7 Haggard, Mr Rob James

8 Iriko D'airy, Mr S Cotter

9 Jet Fighter, Mr J L Scallan

10 Keeptheoldmanout, Mr J G Murphy

11 Mellow Glory, Mr F P Murphy

12 Tech Talk, Mr D G Lavery

13 Transprint, Mr A J Doyle

14 Turnupdevolume, Mr Barry Thomas Stone

15 Well Buoy, Miss Gina Andrews

16 A Mighty King, Mr L P Shanahan

15.05: Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Final Handicap Hurdle

1 Timmy Tuesday, Mr J H Williamson

2 Cave Court, Mr O McGill

3 Slanagaibhgoleir, Mark Walsh

4 Blue Hop, Rachael Blackmore

5 Bright Legend, Harry Cobden

6 Bridie's Beau, C Stone-Walsh

7 Hartur D'arc, Keith Donoghue

8 Luminous Light, Sean Flanagan

9 Rocheval (FR) Patrick Wadge

10 Stay If U Want To, Jonjo O'Neill Jr

11 Camino Rock, Gavin Brouder

12 Must Go Now, John Shinnick

13 Boyles Hill, Isabel Williams

14 Kinbara Firstdraft, J J Slevin

15 Londonofficecallin, D King

16 Crazierthandaisy, Sam Twiston-Davies

17 Jolie Jewel, Phillip Enright

18 Sammy Smart Darragh O'Keeffe

19 Down Around, H E Sexton

20 Kilta, Jonathan England

21 Billy Lee Swagger, A P Kelly

22 Noble Park, P V O'Brien

23 Almuhit, Richie McLernon

24 Buy Some Time, B Smith

25 Away To Milan, Simon Torrens

15.40: Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle

1 Gaucher, Brian Hayes

2 Brentford Hope, Jonathan Burke

3 Hunters Yarn, J J Slevin

4 Iberico Lord, Mark Walsh

5 Helvic Dream, Donagh Meyler

6 Samui, Mr J H Williamson

7 Any Road, Darragh O'Keeffe

8 Lark In The Mornin, Danny Mullins

9 Wilful, Jonjo O'Neill Jr

10 Ascending Lark, P V O'Brien

11 Impero, Danny Gilligan

12 Irish Panther, Cian Cullinan

13 God Of Thunder, D King

14 American Money, Rachael Blackmore

15 Run For Harry, C Monaghan

16 Sonny May, Sean O'Keeffe

17 Serienmond, C Stone-Walsh

16.15: Champion Novice Hurdle

1 Fleetfoot, Keith Donoghue

2 Irancy, Mark Walsh

3 Karbau, Danny Mullins

4 Kopek Des Bordes, Paul Townend

5 Salvator Mundi, Mr Patrick Mullins

6 Whinney Hill, Sam Ewing

16.50: Champion Novice Chase

1 Ballyburn, Paul Townend

2 Champ Kiely, Danny Mullins

3 Gorgeous Tom, Darragh O'Keeffe

4 Ile Atlantique, Mr Patrick Mullins

5 Impaire Et Passe, J J Slevin

6 Lecky Watson, Sean O'Keeffe

7 Slade Steel, Rachael Blackmore

8 Stellar Story, Danny Gilligan

9 Don't Rightly Know, Harry Cobden

17.25: Defender Bumper

1 Brother Walfrid, Mr M Kenneally

2 Cluain Chormaic, Mr E Mahon

3 Green Chef, Mr D McGill

4 Green Hint, Mr S Connor

5 Green Style, Mr B O'Neill

6 If You Believe, Mr D G Lavery

7 Laguna Beach, Mr J L Gleeson

8 Leader Des Bordes, Mr Patrick Mullins

9 Lejolicoeur Du Mou, Mr Finian Maguire

10 Lincall, Mr J M Halford

11 Maith An Buachaill, Miss J Townend

12 Mullaghgloss, Mr A P Ryan

13 Reckless, Mr J H Williamson

14 Santo Sospir, Mr H C Swan

15 Seabloom, Mr Charlie Mullins

16 So You Know, Miss Gina Andrews

17 Thiscouldbetheone, Mr Derek O'Connor

18 Brosna Shine, Mr P A King

19 Thirsty Work, Mr A Leahy

20 Wonderful Everyday, Miss R Dudfield

18.00: William Hill Champion Chase

1 Captain Guinness, Rachael Blackmore

2 El Fabiolo, Paul Townend

3 Fact To File, Mark Walsh

4 Marine Nationale, Sean Flanagan

5 Senecia, Phillip Enright

6 Solness, J J Slevin

18.35: Willie Coonan Memorial INH Flat Race

1 All For Brooke, Mr A Leahy

2 Answer That, Miss A B O'Connor

3 Au Plaisir, Mr D Doyle

4 Barley Lane, Mr Rob James

5 Bud Fox, Mr Derek O'Connor

6 Buddy Holly, Mr H C Swan

7 Certamen, Mr F R Buckley

8 Coutach, Mr Patrick Mullins

9 Danny The Champ, Mr J Kidd

10 Dorie Miller, Mr Finn Tegetmeier

11 Famous Figure, Mr R Barron

12 Galileo Sand, Mr J L Gleeson

13 I'm A Rocket Man, Mr M Sharpe

14 Jaynemax, Mr P A King

15 Kilmore Dragon, Mr E Mahon)

16 Little Boy Sivola, Miss P Elvin

17 Market Ready, Mr E P O'Brien

18 Max Meridius, Mr Charlie Mullins

19 Minella Jackpot, Mr A T Feeney

20 Our Sonny, Mr A P Ryan

21 Starting Fifteen, Mr Finian Maguire

22 The Eggler

23 Celestial Tune, Mr Barry Thomas Stone

24 Eagle Of Destiny, Mr B O'Neill

25 Scarriff Bridge, Mr L P Shanahan