'We're ready for it' - fighting talk from Cobden on Clan Des Obeaux's Irish bid

The end-of-season celebrations in Britain are over and attention for Harry Cobden now turns to a colossal showdown between his mount Clan Des Obeaux and some of Ireland's best in Wednesday's Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (5.55).

Paul Nicholls' stable jockey admitted it was "gutting" that injury denied him the chance to be on board Clan Des Obeaux when he produced a marvellous effort under Sam Twiston-Davies to win the race last season. After success in the Betway Bowl Chase at Aintree earlier this month, the five-time Grade 1 winner is reportedly in top form again.

Clan Des Obeaux is bidding to become only the second to win two Punchestown Gold Cups – a feat achieved by Nicholls' former great Neptune Collonges. He is a 9-2 chance with the sponsors in a market topped by the 15-8 shot Allaho.

Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup: racecard and betting

Cobden was filmed with Harry Derham on Twitter singing We Are The Champions to celebrate the yard's 13th trainers' title in a party on Sunday night, but he is now taking aim at a first winner in Ireland. He is wary of an extremely strong home challenge including facile Ryanair Chase winner Allaho, while Al Boum Photo and Minella Indo have landed three Cheltenham Gold Cups collectively.

The jockey, who finished his season with a four-timer at Sandown on Saturday, said: "It's a red hot race I suppose the question is whether Allaho will stay three miles? He'll probably make the running, so I'd say we'll follow him around and see what happens.

"Our horse is in good form, has was great at Aintree and has come out of it well. He's had plenty of days since then to get him 110 per cent, exactly the same as last year. He's got the blinkers on and we're ready for it.

"The horses are running well this month. We had a fantastic Aintree and Saturday at Sandown was a brilliant way to end the season so we can only go out there with plenty of confidence."

The ride will be Cobden's fifth at the track. A cheekbone fracture from a fall at the Grand National meeting denied him a chance to ride at the fixture last year.

He added: "It was gutting not to be out there last year, but hopefully this year is my year to have a good go at it."

Willie Mullins is responsible for five of the nine runners declared on Monday. His stable jockey Paul Townend is to partner Allaho, who is set to step up to the three-mile distance for the first time since December 2020.

Allaho: favourite for Wednesday's raceCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Townend opted for Allaho over stablemate Al Boum Photo, who he had ridden in every start since March 2019, when the pair recorded the first of two Gold Cup successes. Bryan Cooper takes the ride for the first time, while Tornado Flyer, Kemboy and Janidil also feature for Mullins.

Fakir D'oudairies is another set to be upped in trip while Henry de Bromhead sends 2020 Gold Cup ace Minella Indo. Galvin, victorious in the Savills Chase in December, is the sole runner for Gordon Elliott.

Punchestown CEO Conor O'Neill said: "The quality of racing throughout the week is extremely good. It's the biggest week of the year in Irish racing, and what a season it's been.

"Given last year, it's going to be fantastic for all those involved and the people coming through the gates. It's people that make Punchestown.

"We get a large number of British attendees and it's vital to have that UK involvement throughout the week, and renew some of those Cheltenham rivalries back home on Irish soil."

Elsewhere, Facile Vega and American Mike are to renew their rivalry in the Race & Stay At Punchestown INH Flat Race (6.30) and The Nice Guy, Minella Cocooner and Minella Crooner were among the big names declared for the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (5.20).

Punchestown Gold Cup
Ladbrokes: 15-8 Allaho, 9-2 Clan Des Obeaux, Minella Indo, 13-2 Galvin, 9 Fakir D'Oudairies, 12 Al Boum Photo, Janidil, 14 Tornado Flyer, 16 Kemboy

Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup confirmed runners and riders

1 Al Boum PhotoBryan Cooper
2 AllahoPaul Townend
3 Clan Des ObeauxHarry Cobden
4 Fakir D'OudairiesMark Walsh
5 GalvinDavy Russell
6 JanidilJody McGarvey
7 KemboySean O'Keeffe
8 Minella IndoRobbie Power
9 Tornado Flyer Danny Mullins

Read more on the Punchestown festival:

2022 Punchestown Gold Cup: the runners, the odds, the verdict

'It's Chacun's track' – Patrick Mullins excited about Energumene rematch

Big-race fancies: who our tipsters expect to triumph at Punchestown

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