Punchestown entries confirmed with the big guns in the mix for glory

A scintillating renewal of the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup is in the offing as a host of big guns stand their ground to take on two-time Cheltenham hero Galopin Des Champs. The Punchestown Festival begins next Tuesday, April 30^th and preliminary entries for the first three days of the five-day showcase of jump racing are now confirmed.

Galopin Des Champs is the star turn heading a list of 13 still in the mix for the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup and is bidding to emulate Sizing John by completing the Gold Cup treble but the Willie Mullins-trained son of Timos will need to reproduce his best form to finish one place better than 12 months ago.

His conqueror in that renewal, Fastorslow looks likely to do battle once more, having also beaten Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan Memorial at Punchestown earlier this season. 

The positions were reversed in the Irish Gold Cup in February, while JJ Slevin parted company with Fastorslow in Cheltenham too early to make a judgement on if the result might have been any different had they remained intact.

Trainer Martin Brassil and owners Seán and Bernadine Mulryan will be hoping that not having had a hard race there might pay dividends next week.

Corach Rambler finished third in the Cheltenham blue riband but his bid to go back-to-back in the Aintree Grand National ended at the first fence subsequently.

Lucinda Russell is considering making the lengthy trip from Arlary House in Kinross with her pride and joy, who she reports to be in fine fettle. “He seems in good form,” said Russell today. “We’ve still got a few days before we decide whether he definitely goes over or not but we have kept him in.

“He’s schooled since and jumped really well. He just seems really fresh and happy so there is a chance we’ll bring him over.”

“We absolutely love Punchestown and we’re looking forward to having runners on Saturday as well hopefully. But we’ll decide on the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup next week.”

Six-time Grade 1 winner Shishkin is another possible cross-channel challenger and Nicky Henderson has enjoyed plenty of success at Punchestown over the years. Shark Hanlon is committed to running King George VI Chase hero Hewick, while Capodanno, Appreciate It and Monkfish bring the Mullins contingent to four.

Journey With Me was a facile winner at Grade 2 level at Easter, where Appreciate It was nine lengths in arrears as head of the chasing pack, and Henry de Bromhead is looking forward to evaluating the eight-year-old’s credentials at the trip and in this class.

“He was great in Fairyhouse,” said de Bromhead today. “We were delighted with him and he seems to have come out of that well. He’s a definite Grade 2 horse and now we’ll see can he step up to Grade 1.

“We’ve never really got an answer about three miles so we thought Wednesday is as good as any day to give it a go.”
Gentlemansgame (Mouse Morris) and Gordon Elliott duo Conflated and Ash Tree Meadow complete the entries.

Captain Guinness was a very popular winner of the Champion Chase at Cheltenham, having been such a consistent performer over the years, and he will bid to emulate predecessor Energumene by completing the double in the William Hill Chase on Tuesday.

“He’s been in great form and we’re aiming for Tuesday with him,” de Bromhead confirmed. “We’re delighted with him. We always felt he deserved to win a Grade 1 and the fact it was the Champion Chase was an added bonus.

“For him to come back after what happened to him at Christmas was really good. He is generally so consistent and we are looking forward to him at Punchestown.

“Maskada will run too. She is being covered so I’d say it’s her last run. So we’ll give it a go and see if she can get some Grade 1 black type. She deserves the chance after giving us some big days.”

Banbridge is an intriguing possibility, having raced predominantly over the intermediate trip for Joseph O’Brien.
Dinoblue and Dysart Dynamo are among a Willie Mullins sextet while Fil Dor is one of a Gordon Elliott pair among the dozen remaining.

There are 15 entries for the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle, with the Gordon Elliott-trained Teahupoo another champion coming home to parade his talents after a successful cross-channel raid.

The convincing Cheltenham victor is the one they all have to beat. Joseph O’Brien’s Home By The Lee was third in Gloucester while fourth-placed Buddy One was nabbed late on at Aintree afterwards and has Galway trainer Paul Gilligan dreaming of Grade 1 glory.

Former champion, Sire Du Berlais is one of three possible representatives for Gordon Elliott. Monkfish, Asterion Forlonge and Sir Gerhard could fly the flag for Willie Mullins.

Telmesomethinggirl and Lantry Lady are among the trio of Henry de Bromhead acceptors, along with Summerville Boy. The two mares were second and fourth in the Cheltenham Mares’ Hurdle, with stablemate Hispanic Moon in third.

“We’ve left the three of them in to give ourselves options and we will see nearer the time,” stated de Bromhead. “I would think Telmesomethinggirl will definitely run somewhere. She will run in this or the Coolmore Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle on Saturday. Lantry Lady is in that too along with Hispanic Moon, who split them in Cheltenham.”