16:00 Leopardstown

Sunday 12 February 2017

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

Stan James Irish Gold Cup (Grade 1)

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 6m 23.30s

Carlingford Lough²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: J E Kiely| OR: 166

11/2

Looking to complete a hat-trick in this race, he was a brilliant winner 12 months ago. Should be cherry-ripe after recent spin over hurdles and no surprise to see another bold bid.

Form: 4614-14

Don Poli⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D J Mullins| T: G Elliott| OR: 161

9/4

Something of an enigma, his career was in the balance following a dismal reappearance at Down Royal in November. Sparkled here in the Lexus at Christmas and has a big chance today.

Form: 1132-3P

Empire Of Dirt^t⁷⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 160

9/2

Won a valuable Navan handicap over three-miles on first start for this trainer in November and not seen since. Needs a career-best to win this but no reason to suspect he isn't primed to deliver just that.

Form: F/F2P11-

Minella Rocco^t⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 158

7/1

Was running a big race at Aintree in December when coming down at the last. This trip is about as short as he wants to be going these days but has plenty of ability.

Form: 3P621-3

More Of That^p⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 154

14/1

Very hard horse to trust these days, has something to find with Don Poli on their Lexus clash and no guarantee he'll even repeat that effort.

Form: 3/113-P3

Road To Riches^p1⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 158

10/1

A top-class chaser at his best, has become a little more inconsistent lately and has plenty on to turn around Lexus form with a few of these rivals.

Form: 232-FP2

Sizing John²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 164

10/3

An excellent chaser at two-miles he proved the doubters wrong when scoring over 2m4f at Thurles last month in good style. This further step up in trip remains a worry however and makes him a risky proposition.

Form: 3-32111

Non-Runners

Zabana⁴⁶

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: A Lynch J: D N Russell

Forecasts

Don Poli (9/4), Sizing John (10/3), Empire Of Dirt (9/2), Carlingford Lough (11/2), Minella Rocco (7/1), Zabana (8/1), Road To Riches (10/1), More Of That (14/1)

Another intriguing renewal of this Grade One contest as Carlingford Lough seeks to become just the third horse to land the race three times. He was brilliant 12 months ago and is expected to take all the beating again. Empire Of Dirt is a live danger on his most recent run but will probably need to find something extra so DON POLI has a huge opportunity following his super Lexus effort. That was in stark contrast to his first start for Gordon Elliott but if he has the hunger for this he certainly has the talent. Minella Rocco is another worthy contender despite his Aintree fall last time but the remaining quartet have various questions that need answering, not least of which is Sizing John's ability to get three-miles in this company. 1. Don Poli 2. Carlingford Lough 3. Empire Of Dirt