All eyes on Salvator Mundi at Punchestown on Sunday

Willie Mullins aims to extend his domination of the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday with the promising Salvator Mundi – current ante-post favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

He made his debut in France in the same Listed Auteuil Hurdle as Sir Gino and owners Joe and Marie Donnelly’s bloodstock agent clearly rated the form as he ended up buying both horses.

Sir Gino went to Nicky Henderson and has already won a Grade One as a juvenile at Aintree, the Fighting Fifth this season and the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase on his debut over the bigger obstacles.

It has been slower going for Salvator Mundi, who made his debut for Willie Mullins in the Triumph Hurdle, where a lack of experience told as he finished sixth behind stablemate Majborough.

Unsurprisingly he had little trouble winning at Tipperary in May as a 1-12 shot, but Mullins will find out far more about him in this Grade Two he has won with the likes of Douvan, Min, Vautour and Mystical Power 12 months ago.

Coral make him their 4-5 favourite to win this weekend and 6-1 favourite for the Festival opener.

His main opposition this weekend comes in the shape of stablemate Kel Histoire, owned by JP McManus.

A French bumper winner, he landed a Cork maiden hurdle last month on his debut for new connections.

Henry de Bromhead’s Sky Lord created a good impression when he won at Cork and should not be forgotten, with the same applying to Gordon Elliott’s Relieved Of Duties, who was a 15-length winner at the Mallow venue when last seen.

Mullins’ Lecky Watson, who beat Slade Steel on his chasing debut, heads five runners in the Sky Bet, For The Fans Novice Chase.

Elliott fields three in the shape of Down Memory Lane, Farren Glory and Search for Glory, while Paul Nolan’s Ifiwerearichman, an easy winner at Punchestown, also runs in the Grade Three contest.