Punchestown poser for Gigginstown

A decision on which race First Lieutenant contests at the Punchestown Festival could be dictated by the target of the impressive Sir Des Champs.

Both horses are owned by Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud and just like at Cheltenham, they are likely to be kept apart at Punchestown.

Trained by Mouse Morris, First Lieutenant was denied back-to-back Festival wins by Bobs Worth in the RSA Chase while Sir Des Champs ran out one of the most impressive winners of the week in the Jewson and is now favourite for next year’s Gold Cup.