Confirmed runners and riders for Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival

Defending champion Kemboy was on Thursday among eight declarations for Saturday's Grade 1 Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (3.15) on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.

The ten-year-old will be joined by Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo, British challenger Frodon and Asterion Forlonge, while Mount Ida was the only absentee at the final declaration stage.

Minella Indo, who has been partnered by Rachael Blackmore on all but three of his 15 starts, will be ridden for the first time by Robbie Power, with Gold Cup-winning rider Jack Kennedy on Delta Work.

There will be a field of six for the Irish Arkle Novice Chase (2.10), headed by Blue Lord, unbeaten in two starts over fences, and Riviere D'Etel, who was second to Ferny Hollow at Leopardstown last time.

Blue Lord: favourite for Grade 1 Irish Arkle on SaturdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Trainer Willie Mullins runs three in the six-runner contest, with Blue Lord set to be joined by Haut En Couleurs and Saint Sam.

The unbeaten Fil Dor, who is favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle, featured among nine declarations for the Racing TV-backed Spring Juvenile Hurdle (1.35) alongside the Mullins-trained Vauban, who was second behind Pied Piper on his first start at Punchestown.

The fourth Grade 1 at Leopardstown on Saturday, the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors '50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff' Novice Hurdle (1.15) will be contested by Albert Bartlett contender Hollow Games and Grand Jury, runner-up in a Grade 1 last time.

Mullins has won this race seven times since 2012 and will have three representatives: Bronn, Minella Cocooner and Whatdeawant, who finished fifth behind Ginto in the Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle.

Saturday at the Dublin Racing Festival: racecards and big-race betting

Early DRF tip: 'He's extremely talented'

Mt Leinster(3.50 Leopardstown)

His beginners’ chase form ties in closely with Haut En Couleurs and after three chases he's been allotted a decent opening mark of 135. Mt Leinster is extremely talented – he wouldn’t have been sent off joint-favourite for the Ebor at York off a Flat mark of 105 if he wasn’t – and that he is Willie Mullins’ sole runner in the race suggests I should get a run for my money.
Robbie Wilders

Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup runners and riders

Asterion ForlongeBryan Cooper
Cilaos Emery Sean O'Keeffe
Conflated Davy Russell
Delta Work Jack Kennedy
Frodon Bryony Frost
Janidil Mark Walsh
Kemboy Paul Townend
Minella Indo Robbie Power

Irish Gold Cup (3.15 Leopardstown, Saturday)

Paddy Power: 5-2 Frodon, 11-4 Kemboy, 100-30 Minella Indo, 4 Asterion Forlonge, 14 Delta Work, Janidil, 33 Conflated, 66 Cilaos Emery

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