Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1)

Off time: 18:05 | Winning time: 6m 31.80s

Champ Kiely¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155| CD

33/1

Very smart chaser who wasn't disgraced when eighth of 34 in Grand National at Aintree 18 days ago. This C&D scorer faces a very stiff task here.

Form: 1-2S578

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Fact To File⁸⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 175| C| D

13/8

Top-class chaser. Things didn't go to plan in the King George on Boxing Day but he put that right when landing the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown (3m) in February, beating Gaelic Warrior by 5 lengths. Major player.

Form: 314-261

Gaelic Warrior^h,t⁴⁷

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

5/6

Outstanding chaser who landed the John Durkan here on his return and enjoyed his finest hour when an emphatic victor in Cheltenham Gold Cup last month, strolling 8 lengths clear of Jango Baie. Big shout.

Form: 11-1321

Grangeclare West¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 163| C

28/1

High-class chaser. Landed the Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse in February but unseated rider first in Grand National at Aintree since. This demands a clear personal best.

Form: 5-8481U

Inothewayurthinkin^p,t⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 167| D

8/1

2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero. Very slow to find his form this term but easily his best run in first-time cheekpieces when 10 lengths third of 10 to Gaelic Warrior in Cheltenham Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Headgear is retained.

Form: 41-59F3

Forecasts

Gaelic Warrior (5/6), Fact To File (13/8), Inothewayurthinkin (8/1), Grangeclare West (28/1), Champ Kiely (33/1)

GAELIC WARRIOR turned on the style when a most impressive winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and in that sort of form can turn the tables on his Irish Gold Cup conqueror Fact To File in what promises to be a race to savour. His top-class stablemate rates a massive threat, though, having bypassed Cheltenham.