17:30 Punchestown

Wednesday 25 April 2018

All15:4016:2016:5517:3018:0518:4019:15

Coral Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1)

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 6m 43.0s

Arctic Skipper^p,t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: A E Lynch| T: V Halley| OR: 145

100/1

Caught Gilgamboa in the final strides in the Grade 2 Fortria Chase at Navan in November (2m yld/soft), but hasn't kicked on since, and is yet to win beyond 2m4f under rules.

Form: 33/10-40

Bellshill²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 160| C| D

4/1

Talented hurdler and novice chaser who finished 10L third to Might Bite in the 2017 RSA Chase. Back from an absence to win the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February (soft), and ran a blinder in the Irish National latest.

Form: 11F3-15

Djakadam⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 161| C| D

5/1

Runner up to Don Cossack in the 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup, and has produced similar solid efforts in the 2017 and 2018 renewals. Beaten a short-head by Sizing John in a thrilling conclusion to this race last year. Obvious contender.

Form: 42-2P35

Edwulf^t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 163| C

8/1

Back from a life threatening injury to gamely take the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February (3m soft), with today's rival Djakadam 10L back in third. Seemingly not strong enough in the Cheltenham Gold Cup (eighth) latest.

Form: F1P-P18

Killultagh Vic⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 162| C

11/2

Looked the likeliest winner when falling at the last in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February (3m soft) allowing the returning Edwulf to profit. Much like today's rival, he wasn't strong enough in the Cheltenham Gold Cup (pulled up) latest.

Form: 111/1FP

Outlander^p²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 162| C

18/1

Started the season well with success in the Champion Chase at Down Royal in November, and beaten just a neck by Edwulf in the Irish Gold Cup in February. Very busy since (pulled up in the Gold Cup/Irish Grand National), so this is asking plenty.

Form: 1332PP

Road To Respect^h⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 166| CD

7/2

Progressive, upcoming Grade 1 proven chaser who was beaten just ½L by Outlander at Down Royal in November. Gained his revenge at Leopardstown in December (3m yld), before a career best 12½L fourth to Native River in the Cheltenham Gold Cup latest.

Form: 11-1214

Sandymount Duke^p1²⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 156| C| D

25/1

A Punchestown festival regular (finished 3½L third to Bellshill in a Grade 1 Novice Hurdle in 2016). Ran well in the Galway Plate in August 2017 (fifth), but off the track since later that month when beaten at Killarney (2m1f). Wears cheek-pieces.

Form: 145-115

Sizing Granite^t¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 151| C

16/1

Took a valuable 2m4f handicap chase at the Punchestown festival in 2017, but struggled early this season off his revised mark. Revitalised by a victory over hurdles at Newbury, but well held in the Melling Chase at Aintree latest (2m4f soft).

Form: 51-PP13

Sub Lieutenant^t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 156

12/1

Fair to say he's a little bit below Grade 1 level, with plenty of these rivals including Road To Respect and Djakadam seemingly having his measure on early season form. Beaten just 1½L by Un De Sceaux in the 2017 Ryanair Chase (good).

Form: 2-35345

Sumos Novios²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Burke| T: W J Burke| OR: 150| C

33/1

On a hat-trick following victories at Wexford (2m6f) and Cork (3m), and has a respectable overall Punchestown record (1,4,2,1,2). However, this level of competition is a whole new ball game, so he's highly likely to struggle.

Form: 3-22811

Total Recall¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: N D Fehily| T: W P Mullins| OR: 156| BF| C

10/1

2017 Ladbrokes Trophy winner (Newbury), but failed to complete in both the Cheltenham Gold Cup (fell) and the Grand National at Aintree (pulled up), so is another to arrive in a deep contest after a very tough spell of racing.

Form: 5-111FP

Non-Runners

Alpha Des Obeaux¹¹

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: M F Morris J: Rachael Blackmore

Forecasts

Road To Respect (7/2), Bellshill (4/1), Djakadam (5/1), Killultagh Vic (11/2), Edwulf (8/1), Total Recall (10/1), Sub Lieutenant (12/1), Sizing Granite (16/1), Outlander (18/1), Alpha Des Obeaux (20/1), Sandymount Duke (25/1), Sumos Novios (33/1), Arctic Skipper (100/1)

A whole host of these horses arrive on the back of a tough spell of racing, so quite how much some can contribute is open to debate. For this reason both Total Recall and Outlander are overlooked despite their ability. Bellshill is theoretically fresher after making just two starts this season, but whilst he ran an absolute blinder in the Irish Grand National that race could've left it's mark. Road To Respect is a worthy favourite following his rock-solid effort in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but we'll opt to chance DJAKADAM. Although 2017/18 hasn't been his finest season, he tends to thrive here and has finished runner up in this race in 2015, 2016 and 2017.