15:35 Leopardstown

Sunday 3 February 2019

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Unibet Irish Gold Cup (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 6m 6.70s

Bellshill³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 168| D

2/1

Won the Punchestown Gold Cup on final start of last season and made a promising enough reappearance here when fourth of 12 in December. May have preferred softer ground than what he gets here but interesting that he's the pick of Walsh.

Form: F3/151-4

Outlander^p³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 159| CD

9/1

A three-time Grade 1 winner (two of those here) but not the easiest to predict and all his best form has come with soft in the going. Hard to rule out but made mistakes around here last time and others hold stronger claims.

Form: PP8-235

Road To Respect³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 169| BF| CD

5/6

Wide margin Grade 1 winner at Down Royal on his return (had Outlander and Balko Des Flos in behind), his second success at the top level. Respectable run in defeat when third of 11 over C&D in December and expected to go well here.

Form: 2143-13

The Storyteller³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 158

8/1

Signed off last season with a win in the Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown but seemingly hasn't improved since and has been ultimately well beaten in three starts this campaign, including when sixth of 11 in behind some of these last time.

Form: 151-546

Non-Runners

Al Boum Photo³³

Weight: 11-10| Age: 7

T: W P Mullins J: Paul Townend

Anibale Fly⁵⁶

Weight: 11-10| Age: 9

T: A J Martin J: B J Geraghty

Balko Des Flos³⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: H De Bromhead J: Rachael Blackmore

Edwulf³⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 10

T: J P O'Brien J: Mr D O'Connor

Monalee³⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: H De Bromhead J: R M Power

Noble Endeavor⁵⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 10

T: G Elliott J: Keith Donoghue

Forecasts

Road To Respect (5/6), Bellshill (2/1), Al Boum Photo (3/1), Balko Des Flos (5/1), The Storyteller (8/1), Monalee (8/1), Outlander (9/1), Anibale Fly (10/1), Edwulf (50/1), Noble Endeavor (50/1)

AL BOUM PHOTO is an exciting stayer who beat a small but talented field on his return at Tramore. The seven-year-old is still unexposed, particularly at this trip and is expected to go close for a yard bidding for their 10th win in the race. Road To Respect is a proven performer at this level and he makes most appeal from the Gigginstown runners while Anibale Fly can't be ruled out after a stellar season last year.