15:15 Leopardstown

Saturday 5 February 2022

All13:0513:3514:1014:4515:1515:5016:25

Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 6m 20.40s

Asterion Forlonge^t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 164| C

5/2

High-class handicap performance when winning easily at Punchestown last spring. Jumping lapses held him back since, set for second when falling last in King George at Kempton latest.

Form: 4331-UF

Cilaos Emery^h³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 160| BF

50/1

Very smart chaser who didn't have to be at best to bag a Thurles listed win in November. Ran poorly when turned over at short odds over hurdles at Punchestown on New Year's Eve. Others preferred.

Form: 184-214

Conflated⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 157

18/1

Smart effort when landing 10-runner handicap chase at Navan (20f, good to soft) in December but there's nothing in his record to suggest he's up to this level of competition.

Form: 314-U21

Delta Work^p1,t³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 161| CD

12/1

Winner of this in 2020 and third last year. Reappearance fourth behind Frodon at Down Royal was respectable but he disappointed in the Savills here over Christmas. Cheekpieces reached for.

Form: 5/5U3-46

Frodon^t⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 166| D

11/2

Last season's King George hero who had Minella Indo and Delta Work behind when landing another Grade 1 win on Down Royal return. Went too hard when below-form fourth in this winter's King George.

Form: 4151-14

Janidil³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 164

7/1

Grade 1 novice chase winner last spring and just as good in defeat this term, chasing home Allaho in John Durkan before fifth in Savills here over Christmas.

Form: 3F12-25

Kemboy³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 165| CD

3/1

Top-class chaser, including win in this last season. Good ¾-length third of 8 to Galvin in Savills here over Christmas. Likely to make a bold bid to defend his crown.

Form: 2194-83

Minella Indo⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 175| D

11/2

Saw off A Plus Tard to win Cheltenham Gold Cup last March. Shaped well when 5 lengths third to Frodon on Down Royal return. Subsequent King George flop in cheekpieces (discarded) too bad to be true.

Form: 1F41-3P

Forecasts

Asterion Forlonge (5/2), Kemboy (3/1), Minella Indo (11/2), Frodon (11/2), Janidil (7/1), Delta Work (12/1), Conflated (18/1), Cilaos Emery (50/1)

KEMBOY gets the nod to build on his good run in the Savills here over Christmas and land this for the second year running. The vote for the forecast spot goes to Minello Indo, who can't have been right in the King George at Kempton (cheekpieces and going right-handed both possible excuses) and is worth one more chance to show he's still capable of form approaching last season's Gold Cup win.