Could Willie Mullins pay price for Aintree offensive?

Next Tuesday week will see the start of the Punchestown festival and there is going to be a somewhat unusual feel to it.

Willie Mullins has given many of his horses a completely new preparation on this occasion and other trainers will be praying that might level the pitch, at least a little.

The facts are that Mullins has behaved out of character, driven, of course, by his desire to be champion trainer in Britain.