'Unless we're told otherwise, we're going' - Nicholls keen to get Bravemansgame on the boat to Punchestown

British racing fans are set to descend on Punchestown in their droves for next week’s festival, although whether they will be joined by star chaser Bravemansgame has still to be determined.

With A-list performers like Galopin Des Champs, Energumene and Envoi Allen all forecast to be in action, appetite for the five-day gala has resulted in ticket sales returning to pre-pandemic levels according to Punchestown’s PR and communications manager Shona Dreaper, who argued the “value on offer to a UK racegoer is incredible”.

Whether those equine heavyweights will be joined by Bravemansgame is likely to be decided in the next couple of days. The eight-year-old was dramatically blocked from running in last week’s Aintree Bowl by the BHA due to ongoing issues with his ownership, but his trainer Paul Nicholls is keen to get him on the boat for a mouthwatering rematch with brilliant Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup.

“I’ve spoken with Bryan [Drew, joint-owner with John Dance] and Bravemansgame is very well and ready to run. Unless we’re told otherwise, we’re going," Nicholls said on Thursday.

“He has to be on the boat by Monday evening if he’s going to be able to run, so we need to know in the next two days at the latest. I would love to run him out there, we really would dearly love to run him if we can.”

WealthTek LLP, a company owned by Dance, was closed down and put into special administration this month by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) after “serious regulatory and operational issues” were discovered at the firm.

John Dance: no runners have been permitted to run in his name since his company, WealthTek LLP, was shut down by the FCA at the start of the monthCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

No entries have been made for horses owned by Dance since the FCA secured a court order on April 6, with Bravemansgame’s entry at Punchestown made before that date. Among the actions the FCA can take as part of an investigation is to apply to the court for assets to be frozen, with how the court order is then applied a matter for the organisation presented with it.

No updates on the WealthTek investigation and administration have been provided by the FCA since last week. However, there remains the possibility further direction could be provided to the BHA and those connected with Bravemansgame before the end of the weekend.

A spokesman for Horse Racing Ireland said on Thursday: “We have been in touch with the BHA and are awaiting an update in relation to their discussions with the FCA about horses relating to Mr Dance’s ownership before determining their eligibility for Irish races.”

Bravemansgame served it up to Galopin Des Champs in an epic Gold Cup as Cheltenham, so another duel between the pair would be a welcome treat. Spectators from Britain have increasingly been drawn to attending racing in Ireland, with those travelling to February’s Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown praising the pricing, atmosphere and quality of horses on display.

In contrast, attendances at this year’s Cheltenham Festival fell by more than 35,000 from last year, albeit this was in part due to caps being placed on the number of people coming through the gates. Attendances proved to be robust at this year’s Grand National festival at Aintree.

Punchestown: tickets are good in advance of the five-day festival starting on TuesdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Speaking about the demand, Dreaper said: “Ticket sales were slightly slower than anticipated at the start, but I think Covid has skewed the sales pattern in recent years. We have now aligned and caught up. We are exactly where we were in 2019 pre-Covid to within 40 tickets.

“Our hospitality continues to amaze us given the cost of living crisis, as it is sold out pretty much across the board with only some availability on the Saturday, which would normally be more of a social day. It is still the largest corporate hospitality sporting event in the country.

“From a punter point of view, we have kind of plateaued in recent years but it’s still a significant number where 20 per cent of our attendance is UK-based. The value on offer to a UK racegoer is incredible. The heart and soul of our campaign for our UK customers was that it costs less to get to Punchestown than it does to get the train from Birmingham to Cheltenham.”

Entries for the first three days of next week’s festival were released on Thursday. Envoi Allen, Hewick, Fury Road and Fastorslow complete a six-strong potential line-up for the Punchestown Gold Cup.

As well as Bravemansgame, ahead of the entries for Friday and Saturday being revealed, 14 other British-trained horses are engaged in races at Punchestown, including Maximilian, Champ and Notlongtillmay.

Dreaper said it would be “amazing” if a re-run of the Cheltenham Gold Cup could take place at Punchestown between Galopin Des Champ and Bravemansgame, and also emphasised the positives for British horses running at the festival.

“In recent years, around half of the UK runners go home with prize-money and cover their expenses,” she said. “It represents a great end-of-season experience for owners and trainers.”

Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Wednesday, April 26)

Ladbrokes: 2-7 Galopin Des Champs, 9-2 Bravemansgame, 15-2 Envoi Allen, 14-1 Hewick, 20-1 Fury Road, 33-1 Fastorslow

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