Quel back bouncing after mishap

Willie Mullins is confident Quel Esprit is back at the top of his game ahead of his run in thetote.com Punchestown Gold Cup on day two of the big Festival today.

After completing a hat-trick of victories for the season in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February, the bold jumping grey was considered Ireland’s major hope of grabbing Cheltenham Gold Cup glory last month.

But after failing to please connections when taking to the Prestbury Park turf on the morning of the blue riband, he was withdrawn from the race.