Five horses to follow at the Punchestown Festival on Wednesday

Tipster: Ross Millar.

Best odds: 13-2.

Simply Natural possibly lacks experience, compared to some of her rivals, with just two starts over hurdles. However, she does carry forward plenty of experience from bumpers.

She's finished runner-up on both hurdle starts, and has performed to a good level on each occasion. A strong traveller, she'll be suited by the big field, and likely high tempo. 

With a feather weight (she's in receipt of weight all-round), I think she can make that count here.

Tipster: Andy Stephens (RaceiQ).

Best odds: 5-1.

Career Jump Index: 7.4. Top Speed: 35.38mph (at Cheltenham last time)

Finishing Speed Percentage at Cheltenham: 104.62%. 

This stamina-bred six-year-old was having only his third start over hurdles when an excellent second in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. 

He got a Jump Index score of 7.9 out of 10, and he stayed on resolutely, being faster than The Passing Wife, who he meets again, in each of the final three furlongs. 

Tipster: Mark Boylan.

Best odds: 28-1.

Speaking on On The Wire, Mark said: "In the Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race, Barnahash Prince is one to note. The Jonathan Sweeney yard is a yard I have a lot of time for, and his charge won really impressively at Cork on debut. That wasn't a deep race, and this will be a much sterner test, but some of the contenders who ran at Cheltenham and Aintree might take a while to get over those exertions, and Barnahash Prince arrives here fresh. I think he could outrun his odds."

Tipster: Harry Allwood.

Best odds: 8-1 (each-way).

Things have not gone to plan for this eight-year-old on his past couple of outings, but there are reasons to believe he will bounce back here, which makes him an each-way bet at the general 8-1 available.

Paul Nolan's charge was brought along steadily during his first season over fences last term, and caught the eye when a never-nearer sixth in the Grand Annual on his handicap chase debut at the Cheltenham Festival.

He finished runner-up in competitive handicap chases on his next two outings before finishing fourth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup off a 2lb higher mark. That form has been boosted since, and he travelled powerfully into contention there before the stamina-sapping ground took its toll. 

His seasonal debut effort this term was arguably a career-best effort, so arriving here fresh is a positive, and he failed to stay 3m1f on heavy ground when last seen, while he was still in the lead when falling two out on his penultimate outing. 

Returning to a more suitable trip, and on ground that should be ideal, he looks to hold strong claims under Sean Flanagan, who tasted Grade One glory on day one of the Punchestown Festival.

Tipster: Johnny Ward.

Best odds: 8-1. 

Hopes are pinned on him showing his best form for the first time this season, but his third in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup when last seen was a positive step.

This race will surely be run to suit him, and he looks the value at 8-1, in my opinion.