15:40 Punchestown

Thursday 30 April 2026

All14:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2518:0518:35

Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 9m 11.40s

Outside The Door¹⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-3| J: Aidan Kelly⁽³⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 137| C

14/1

Career-best effort when winning handicap chase at Wexford last summer. However, ran poorly next 2 starts and fared no better switched to this discipline when well beaten in race won by Desertmore House here in November.

Form: 2-51P07

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Busselton^b²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: E Bolger| OR: 133| CD

7/2

Game winner of this race last year. Hasn't kicked on since, but after 4 months off (left Joseph Patrick O'Brien) he faced an inadequate test over hurdles (2m) at Cork 25 days ago. Interesting with recent run behind him and blinkers reapplied.

Form: 1-32595

Desertmore House^t⁵⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Ricky Doyle| T: M Brassil| OR: 138| C

13/8

Took well to this discipline when second in this race last year and, following a point success, scored comfortably back here in November. Well held at the Cheltenham Festival last time, but no surprise to see him bounce back at this venue.

Form: P2-11P8

Dorans Law^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr B J Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 113

28/1

Opened account over fences in a Wexford handicap last summer. After 6 months off, possibly needed the run when pulled up in the Ulster National at Downpatrick in March, though he has plenty to find making first start in this discipline.

Form: 1452-PP

Shannon Royale³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 128| C

11/2

Useful chaser at best for Gordon Elliott but yet to fire for current yard, down the field in first cross-country event here in February. Seemed to down tools before keeping on again late when fifth of 15 in Ulster National at Downpatrick last time.

Form: P-75P75

Vital Island^t¹³⁹

Age: 14| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr B T Stone⁽⁷⁾| T: R P O'Keeffe| OR: 128| C

25/1

Veteran who recorded a third cross-country success at this Festival last year (landed the La Touche in 2023). However, pulled up next 2 starts before hampered when unseated rider at Cheltenham in December. Looks vulnerable to his younger rivals.

Form: 141-PPB

Benny The Duke⁵³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr F P Murphy⁽⁷⁾| T: Brendan Walsh

50/1

Hurdles winner but he's a maiden pointer and well beaten both starts over fences under Rules, finding it tough when seventh of 12 in this race last year when trained by Mark John Scallan.

Form: 26P5P5

Bodhisattva^v¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Alex Harvey| T: J C McConnell| OR: 107

22/1

Losing run is mounting up, but with visor reapplied he ran better than for a while when fourth of 11 in handicap chase at Haydock 15 days ago. He's hard to catch right, though, and faces a tough ask (well beaten in this race in 2024).

Form: 3P500-4

Cavalry Master^p,t²⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: P Maher| OR: 98| C

80/1

One-time useful chaser but form has gone the wrong way, including in cross-country events, pulled up in handicap chase at Fairyhouse on latest outing 26 days ago.

Form: 98B8PP

Lough Derg Spirit^p,t¹⁸

Age: 14| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr J J Berry⁽⁷⁾| T: D P Murphy| OR: 112

25/1

Third in the Foxhunter at Aintree for this yard back in 2023. Successful in points since but unseated early on cross-country debut here in November and pulled up in hunter chase at Gowran last month.

Form: 3-6U3PU

The Bosses Oscar^t¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss Georgie Benson⁽⁷⁾| T: N Slevin| OR: 138

50/1

Didn't manage to match his hurdling form sent chasing back in 2021/22. After a spell over hurdles, pulled up in hunter chase at Down Royal in December 2023 and hasn't been seen under Rules since (previously trained by Gordon Elliott).

Form: 2PPP49

The Goffer^p,t⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 135| C

4/1

Hasn't won under Rules since November 2023 but runner-up twice in cross-country events here this season, beaten by Vanillier in February. In first-time cheekpieces, well held at Cheltenham last time and has stamina to prove over this longer distance.

Form: 012720

Walking On Glass¹⁵⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Peter Smithers⁽⁷⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 125

28/1

Fairly useful chaser at best and fared better than for a while over jumps when third in handicap hurdle at this course last summer. However, making first start in this discipline he was tailed off here in November.

Form: 97-73P0

Non-Runners

Vanillier⁵⁰

Weight: 12-3| Age: 11

T: G P Cromwell J: Keith Donoghue

Forecasts

Desertmore House (13/8), Vanillier (9/4), Busselton (7/2), The Goffer (4/1), Shannon Royale (11/2), Outside The Door (14/1), Bodhisattva (22/1), Lough Derg Spirit (25/1), Vital Island (25/1), Dorans Law (28/1), Walking On Glass (28/1), Benny The Duke (50/1), The Bosses Oscar (50/1), Cavalry Master (80/1)

Successful at this course in February, VANILLIER went on to be placed at the Cheltenham Festival for the second year running and he can resume winning ways back here. Last year's runner-up Desertmore House disappointed at Cheltenham last time but is worth another chance, while Busselton could go well in his title defence.