Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup runner-by-runner guide

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

Kemboy is back at Leopardstown to defend his Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup crown on the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival.

Willie Mullins’ popular chaser, who scored by 2l from The Storyteller in last year’s renewal, faces seven rivals including Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Minella Indo, British challenger Frodon and talented stablemate Asterion Forlonge.

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The Grade 1 contest is set to start at 3.15pm on Saturday, February 5 – and Paddy’s dangling a mouthwatering €150,000 bonus if the winner can go on to score in next month’s Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. Woof!

Our pals at Timeform have run the rule over the eight runners in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup and offered an early tip.

Asterion Forlonge

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: B. J. Cooper Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs

High-class handicap performance when winning easily at Punchestown last spring. Jumping lapses held him back since, set for second when falling last in King George at Kempton latest.

Cilaos Emery

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: S. F. O’Keeffe Age: 10 Weight: 11st 10lbs

Very smart chaser who didn’t have to be at best to bag a Thurles listed win in November. Ran poorly when turned over at short odds over hurdles at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve. Others preferred.

Conflated

Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Davy Russell Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs

Smart effort when landing 10-runner handicap chase at Navan (20f, good to soft) in December but there’s nothing in his record to suggest he’s up to this level of competition.

Delta Work

Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: J. W. Kennedy Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs

Winner of this in 2020 and third last year. Reappearance fourth behind Frodon at Down Royal was respectable but he disappointed in the Savills here over Christmas. Cheekpieces reached for.

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Frodon

Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Bryony Frost Age: 10 Weight: 11st 10lbs

Last season’s King George hero who had Minella Indo and Delta Work behind when landing another Grade 1 win on Down Royal return. Went too hard when below-form fourth in this winter’s King George.

Janidil

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: M. P. Walsh Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs

Grade 1 novice chase winner last spring and just as good in defeat this term, chasing home Allaho in John Durkan before fifth in Savills here over Christmas.

Kemboy

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: P. Townend Age: 10 Weight: 11st 10lbs

Top-class chaser, including win in this last season. Good ¾-length third of 8 to Galvin in Savills here over Christmas. Likely to make a bold bid to defend his crown.

Minella Indo

Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: Robbie Power Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs

Saw off A Plus Tard to win Cheltenham Gold Cup last March. Shaped well when 5 lengths third to Frodon on Down Royal return. Subsequent King George flop in cheekpieces (discarded) too bad to be true.

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Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup Tips

Timeform: KEMBOY gets the nod to build on his good run in the Savills here over Christmas and land this for the second year running. The vote for the forecast spot goes to Minello Indo, who can’t have been right in the King George at Kempton (cheekpieces and going right-handed both possible excuses) and is worth one more chance to show he’s still capable of form approaching last season’s Gold Cup win.

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Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup runner-by-runner guide as Kemboy faces 7 rivals at Leopardstown