17:55 Punchestown

Wednesday 27 April 2022

All15:4016:1516:4517:2017:5518:3019:0519:45

Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1)

Off time: 17:55 | Winning time: 6m 27.70s

Al Boum Photo^p⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 165

20/1

Won Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2019 and 2020 but latest sixth to A Plus Tard in this year's renewal of that race is perhaps a sign that age is catching up with him. Suspicion he'll be vulnerable again.

Form: 1/132-16

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Allaho^t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 176| C| D

6/5

Outstanding around 2½m, winning the last 2 renewals of the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival by a combined total of 26 lengths. This front-runner will be very tough to beat if anywhere near as effective back up at 3m.

Form: 112-111

Clan Des Obeaux^b²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 172| CD

11/2

Landed Aintree and Punchestown Grade 1 double last spring (beat Al Boum Photo in this) and looking to repeat the feat having reacted positively to first-time blinkers (retained) to fend off Conflated at Aintree 3 weeks ago. Likely to go well again.

Form: 211-231

Fakir D'Oudairies¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 165

7/1

Arrives on a Grade 1 hat-trick after wins in Ascot Chase and Melling Chase at Aintree, looking better than ever when quickening 5½ lengths clear of Hitman in latter. A bigger worry than the step back up to 3m is that Allaho has been way too strong for him when they've clashed previously.

Form: 3-14211

Galvin⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 167| CD

5/1

Improved again to collar A Plus Tard on the line in Savills at Leopardstown in December but he was no match for that same rival when fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup since, just lacking a change of gear when it mattered. Similar scenario a possibility here.

Form: 11-1214

Janidil⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: J S McGarvey| T: W P Mullins| OR: 164| BF

25/1

Top-class chaser, although firmly put in his place by stablemate Allaho at Cheltenham last month. Fell heavily when odds-on for a Fairyhouse Grade 2 since. Back up in trip.

Form: 2-2532F

Kemboy^p1²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 165| CD

40/1

Provided Ruby Walsh with a winner on his final ride when edging out Al Boum Photo in this in 2019. Also landed an Irish Gold Cup last season but he's consistently come up short at the top level this term, 9 lengths third to Clan des Obeaux at Aintree latest. Cheekpieces will need to help.

Form: 94-8353

Minella Indo^t1⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 170| CD

9/1

2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner who added to his very good record at the Festival when chasing home stablemate A Plus Tard in this year's renewal of that race. Scored at this meeting in his novice hurdle days. Tongue tied first time. Respected.

Form: 41-3P22

Tornado Flyer⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 165| C| D

20/1

Ran the race of his life when proving 9 lengths too strong for Clan des Obeaux in King George at Kempton on Boxing Day. Ran no sort of race in Cheltenham Gold Cup on sole start since, though.

Form: 543-51P

Forecasts

Allaho (6/5), Galvin (5/1), Clan Des Obeaux (11/2), Fakir D'Oudairies (7/1), Minella Indo (9/1), Al Boum Photo (20/1), Tornado Flyer (20/1), Janidil (25/1), Kemboy (40/1)

A cracking renewal. ALLAHO's free-wheeling style is seen to very good effect over 2½m but it's worth remembering that he has some top-class form to his name around 3m and, with a dry forecast, he'll surely take some pegging back. Last year's winner Clan des Obeaux warmed up for his defence with a victory at Aintree and can fill the forecast spot ahead of Minella Indo.