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Ryanair Chase winner Allaho goes up in trip for the Punchestown Gold Cup, the feature race on the second day of the 2022 Punchestown Festival.
Willie Mullins’ stable star faces eight rivals in the 5.55pm on Wednesday including last year’s champion Clan Des Obeaux, 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Minella Indo and Savills Chase scorer Galvin.
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The ludicrously talented line-up for the three-mile contest is completed by Al Boum Photo, Fakir D’Oudairies, Kemboy, Janidil and Tornado Flyer.
To aid your research if you’re planning to have a punt, you’ll find our runner-by-runner assessment of the Punchestown Gold Cup field below.
- PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP TIPS FROM PADDY POWER EXPERTS FOR WEDNESDAY’S 5.55
Al Boum Photo
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: B. J. Cooper Age: 10 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Won Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2019 and 2020 but latest sixth to A Plus Tard in this year’s renewal of that race is perhaps a sign that age is catching up with him. Suspicion he’ll be vulnerable again.
**
Allaho
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: P. Townend Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Outstanding around 2½m, winning the last 2 renewals of the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival by a combined total of 26 lengths. This front-runner will be very tough to beat if anywhere near as effective back up at 3m.
*****
Clan Des Obeaux
Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Harry Cobden Age: 10 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Landed Aintree and Punchestown Grade 1 double last spring (beat Al Boum Photo in this) and looking to repeat the feat having reacted positively to first-time blinkers (retained) to fend off Conflated at Aintree 3 weeks ago. Likely to go well again.
****
Fakir D’oudairies
Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: M. P. Walsh Age: 7 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Arrives on a Grade 1 hat-trick after wins in Ascot Chase and Melling Chase at Aintree, looking better than ever when quickening 5½ lengths clear of Hitman in latter. A bigger worry than the step back up to 3m is that Allaho has been way too strong for him when they’ve clashed previously.
***
Galvin
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Davy Russell Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Improved again to collar A Plus Tard on the line in Savills at Leopardstown in December but he was no match for that same rival when fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup since, just lacking a change of gear when it mattered. Similar scenario a possibility here.
***
Janidil
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: J. S. McGarvey Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Top-class chaser, although firmly put in his place by stablemate Allaho at Cheltenham last month. Fell heavily when odds-on for a Fairyhouse Grade 2 since. Back up in trip.
**
Kemboy
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: S. F. O’Keeffe Age: 10 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Provided Ruby Walsh with a winner on his final ride when edging out Al Boum Photo in this in 2019. Also landed an Irish Gold Cup last season but he’s consistently come up short at the top level this term, 9 lengths third to Clan des Obeaux at Aintree latest. Cheekpieces will need to help.
**
Minella Indo
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: Robbie Power Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs
2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner who added to his very good record at the Festival when chasing home stablemate A Plus Tard in this year’s renewal of that race. Scored at this meeting in his novice hurdle days. Tongue tied first time. Respected.
****
Tornado Flyer
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: D. E. Mullins Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Ran the race of his life when proving 9 lengths too strong for Clan des Obeaux in King George at Kempton on Boxing Day. Ran no sort of race in Cheltenham Gold Cup on sole start since, though.
**
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