Ruby Walsh: Marine Nationale may struggle to peg Fact To File back

This a clash befitting any end-of-season dust-up and one that may well shape the future for more than just these two horses

FLYING FORM: Fact To File powers to victory in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month. Picture: Healy Racing 

Twelve months ago, the Tuesday and Wednesday cards at Punchestown moved back to 2.30pm start times, and this year, Thursday action joins them. The other change in the billing has been the movement of the feature contests each afternoon to later in the running order. Cheltenham did likewise this year; Sandown tried it on Saturday, and I like the idea of it as the days build to the feature event, giving the best race even more meaning.

On day one in Kildare, the feature race is the William Hill Champion Chase, and Punchestown has hit the jackpot with the Champion Chase and Ryanair winners from the Cheltenham Festival set to face off over one circuit of this glorious venue.