This year's Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup will be fought over 3 miles 1 furlong and a field of 9 go to post. Heading the market is Galopin Des Champs this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.
We also have fan favourite Hewick who takes to the start after missing the Randox Grand National due to bad ground. Should be an exciting race to finish the National Hunt season. As we head into the Guineas meeting at Newmarket this weekend.
16:15 - Channor Real Estate Group Novices Hurdle (Grade 1)
Runners - 8
Distance - 3 miles
Going - Yielding (Soft)
Winnings - £73,750
1 - An Tobar 20/1
Ridden by Rachael Blackmore
Trained by Henry De Bromhead
Owned by Robcour
Form reads 1/1350
2 - Backmersackme 20/1
Ridden by Donagh Meyler
Trained by Emmet Mullins
Owned by Paul Byrne
Form reads 4-11
3 - Better Days Ahead 9/2
Ridden by Danny Gilligan
Trained by Gordon Elliott
Owned by Bective Stud
Form reads -F1421
4 - Dancing City 2/1
Ridden by Paul Townend
Trained by Willie Mullins
Owned by Mrs J Donnelly
Form reads -51131
5 - High Class Hero 10/1
Ridden by Sean O'Keeffe
Trained by Willie Mullins
Owned by Sullivan Bloodstock Limited & Neill Hughes & P Crowley
Form reads 11111P
6 - Lecky Watson 8/1
Ridden by Danny Mullins
Traned by Willie Mullins
Owned by Slaneyville Syndicate
Form reads 5-1235
7 - Stellar Story 4/1
Ridden by Jack Kennedy
Trained by Gordon Elliott
Owned by Gigginstown House Stud
Form reads -13241
8 - Cuta Des As 50/1
Ridden by Brian Hayes
Trained by Willie Mullins
Owned by Martin Dodd & Michael Songer & Martin Hill & Terry Dodd
Form reads 133-1P
Our picks for the race
To win - Better Days Ahead 9/2
Won his maiden at Fairyhouse. Ran well and stayed strongly when winning the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham, has not quite performed at graded level but this trip could bring out further improvement.
Each-way - High Class Hero 10/1
Was unbeaten over hurdles before Cheltenham where jockey said he ran too freely. Better ground won't worry him so improvement can be expected.
16:50 - Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H Flat Race (Grade 1)
Runners - 12
Distance - 2 miles and half a furlong
Going - Yielding (Soft)
Winnings - £59,000
1 - Argento Boy 100/1
Ridden by Mr Pat Taaffe
Trained by Willie Mullins
Owned by Mrs Audrey Turley
Form reads 10
2 - Harbour Highway 11/1
Ridden by Mr Derek O'Connor
Trained by Emmet Mullins
Owned by John P McManus
Form reads 11
3 - Jasmin De Vaux 3/2
Ridden by Mr P W Mullins
Trained by Willie Mullins
Owned by Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
Form reads 1-11
4 - My Great Mate 150/1
Ridden by Mr Elliot Ohgren
Trained by Willie Mullins
Owned by Temple Bloodstock Syndicate
Form reads 3119
5 - Redemption Day 14/1
Ridden by Miss J Townend
Trained by Willie Mullins
Owned by Tim O'Driscoll
Form reads 02/231
6 - Romeo Coolio 5/1
Ridden by Mr H C Swan
Trained by Gordon Elliott
Owned by KTDA Racing
Form reads 1-12
7 - Sounds Victorius 25/1
Ridden by Mr C Mullins
Trained by Willie Mullins
Owned by Bruton Street
Form reads 214
8 - The Yellow Clay 25/1
Ridden by Mr B O'Neill
Trained by Gordon Elliott
Owned by Bective Stud
Form reads 11-46
9 - William Munny 4/1
Ridden by Mr Finian Maguire
Trained by Barry Connell
Owned by Barry Connell
Form reads 11
10 - You Oughta Know 50/1
Ridden by Mr T Costello
Trained by Willie Mullins
Owned by Luke McMahon
Form reads 1120
11 - Shuttle Diplomacy 14/1
Ridden by Mr J L Gleeson
Trained by Thomas Cooper
Owned by Ciaran John Mooney
Form reads 11
12 - Switch From Diesel 50/1
Ridden by Mr T Hamilton
Trained by Seamus Fahey
Owned by Paul Mullins
Form reads 22132
Our picks for the race
To win - Jasmin De Vaux 3/2
Won his only Point-to-point start by 5 lengths. Won on debut for Willie at Naas over 2 miles 2 furlongs in January, raced prominently when kicking and going clear by 15 lengths. Became 13th Champion Bumper winner at Cheltenham for the stable. Beating Romeo Coolio who is clearly a threat here, stable have won this 11 times and 7 in the last 9.
Each-way - Shuttle Diplomacy 14/1
Won on debut at Naas winning in good style although running keen. Front ran second time out and won impressively at Limerick in a Listed Bumper. Form doesn't hold up great after yesterday but looks like a dangerous horse to oppose.
17:25 - Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1)
Runners - 9
Distance - 3 miles and 1 furlong
Going - Yielding (Soft)
Winnings - £177,000
1 - Appreciate It 50/1
Ridden by Mr P W Mullins
Trained by Willie Mullins
Owned by Miss M A Masterson
Form reads 2-2532
2 - Capodanno 40/1
Ridden by Mark Walsh
Trained by Willie Mullins
Owned by John P McManus
Form reads -63140
3 - Conflated 18/1
Ridden by Jack Kennedy
Trained by Gordon Elliott
Owned by Gigginstown House Stud
Form reads 53UU32
4 - Corach Rambler 12/1
Ridden by Derek Fox
Trained by Lucinda Russell
Owned by The Ramblers
Form reads 1-533U
5 - Fastorslow 10/3
Ridden by J J Slevin
Trained by Martin Brassil
Owned by Sean & Bernadine Mulryan
Form reads 21-12U
6 - Galopin Des Champs 8/11 Favorite
Ridden by Paul Townend
Trained by Willie Mullins
Owned by Mrs Audrey Turley
Form reads 2-3111
7 - Gentlemansgame 66/1
Ridden by Rachael Blackmore
Trained by M F Morris
Owned by Robcour
Form reads 1-21P5
8 - Hewick 14/1
Ridden by Jordan Gainford
Trained by John Joseph Hanlon
Owned by T J McDonald
Form reads 1-4016
9 - Journey With Me 33/1
Ridden by Rachael Blackmore
Trained by Henry De Bromhead
Owned by Robcour
Form reads 21F-31
Our picks for this year's Punchestown Gold Cup
To win - Galopin Des Champs 8/11 Fav
Beaten only twice over fences, both times by Fastorslow, first time in this then the John Durkan on his reappearance. Reclaimed the chasing scene with Irish Gold Cup and a second Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph. 10lbs in hand over Fastorslow on official figures. hard to look elsewhere, could be beat if not recovered from Cheltenham but that's a fair time ago now.
Each-way - Hewick 14/1
Has won on big days in a range of settings, Sandown and America at Far Hills, but none come close to his King George win at Kempton when flying home after Shishkin fell. Had prep run at Aintree over hurdles on ground that didn't suit, blinkers added. Pick from the heart would love to see this little horse win but also seems like the target after not running the Randox Grand National.
Let's hope for a competitive day of racing to round of the national hunt season. Previews for both the 1000 & 2000 Guineas at Newmarket will be released in the coming days. Will City Of Troy live up to the hype and is he better then Frankel. Or will there be a surprise winner against the heavy favourite. Can Aiden O'Brien win both of the big races with him saddling Ylang Ylang in the 1000 Guineas who is currently second in the betting markets behind the Karl Burke trained Fallen Angel for owners Clipper logistics who's currently 3/1 favourite. An exciting weekend of racing ahead.
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