Top trainers under orders for walkabout at Punchestown

LEADING Irish trainers will be able to judge conditions at Punchestown for themselves today when they go on the annual course walk ahead of next week’s four-day Festival.

A large party including Tom Taaffe, Noel Meade, Jessica Harrington, Willie Mullins, Colm Murphy, Paul Nolan, Francis Flood and Mick Halford will be joined by racecourse officials as well as jockeys Ruby Walsh and Conor O'Dwyer.

This is the third year of the course walk and it has proved to be an overwhelming success.