17:25 Punchestown

Wednesday 1 May 2024

All14:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2518:0018:35

Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1)

Off time: 17:25 | Winning time: 6m 26.7s

Appreciate It^t³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153| C| D

33/1

High-class hurdler though only has a maiden/novice win to his name over fences. No match for Journey With Me in Fairyhouse Chase at Fairyhouse (19.7f, heavy, 10/3) 30 days ago and easily passed over at this level.

Form: 32-2532

Capodanno^t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 160| CD

33/1

High-class chaser who got back to winning ways when landing Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January and similar form despite shaping as if the drop in trip was against him when fourth in the Ryanair. However, made it 2 successive Grand National no-shows 18 days ago and this is a tough ask.

Form: P-63140

Conflated^p¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 166| D

25/1

Top-class chaser on his day but only success in last 2 seasons came in Savills Chase last term. Good placed efforts in Ryanair at Cheltenham (20.6f, soft) and Melling Chase at Aintree (19.9f, soft) last 2 starts but to find with the principals back up in trip.

Form: 53UU32

Corach Rambler^t¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 162| D

18/1

High-class chaser who was a most impressive winner of Grand National last season. Produced a career best when a cracking third in Gold Cup at Cheltenham but got no further than the first when bidding to defend his crown at Aintree 18 days ago. This very much Plan B.

Form: 11-533U

Fastorslow^t⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Slevin| T: M Brassil| OR: 170| CD

7/2

Inflicted defeats on Galopin des Champs in this race last year and Grade 1 here (19.7f) in November but last year's Gold Cup winner saw him off by 4½ lengths in Irish version at Leopardstown (3m, soft) in February. Unfortunate unseat in Gold Cup after and is the obvious threat to the favourite.

Form: 521-12U

Galopin Des Champs⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 180| CD

1/2

Outstanding staying chaser who recorded his 9th Grade 1 success when winning his second Cheltenham Gold Cup 7 weeks ago. Only second behind Fastorslow in this last year but fancied to make amends.

Form: 12-3111

Gentlemansgame^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: M F Morris| OR: 160| D

40/1

Smart staying hurdler who made a fine start over fences when landing the Charlie Hall (24.2f, heavy) at Wetherby in November. Never figured in Gold Cup but much better when fifth in Bowl at Aintree, left behind 2 out. Up against it again.

Form: 3/1-21P5

Hewick^b¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Jordan Gainford| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 169| D

12/1

Career-best effort when winning the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, albeit fortunate the race fell apart after 2 out. Missed the Gold Cup due to the ground and had a spin over hurdles at Aintree 18 days ago. Arrives fresh for this at least. Change of headgear.

Form: F1-4016

Journey With Me^t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 162| D

33/1

Smart chaser who endured a miserable Punchestown Festival experience for the second time in as many years when falling in Grade 1 novice 12 months ago. Couldn't justify favouritism on first run since at Navan in March but was a good winner of a Fairyhouse Grade 2 last month. This much harder.

Form: 121F-31

Forecasts

Galopin Des Champs (1/2), Fastorslow (7/2), Hewick (12/1), Corach Rambler (18/1), Conflated (25/1), Appreciate It (33/1), Journey With Me (33/1), Capodanno (33/1), Gentlemansgame (40/1)

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS had presumably taken too much out of himself in the Gold Cup when second to Fastorslow in this 12 months ago but he's had an extra week to recover from his Cheltenham heroics this time around, so he's fancied to reverse the placings with his old rival. Corach Rambler got no further than the first in the Grand National 18 days ago but was a superb third in the Gold Cup prior to that and can place in this, too.