Allaho all the rage for Punchestown Gold Cup as Clan Des Obeaux drifts

Dual Ryanair Chase winner Allaho has come in for considerable support in the feature Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (5.55) on day two of the Punchestown festival.

The Willie Mullins-trained chaser was as big as 7-4 in the morning but has been backed into 11-8, with this step up in distance to three miles proving no distraction for punters.

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “Allaho is very strong at the front of the market with punters really getting behind him to follow up on his Ryanair Chase win and produce a fourth successive victory.”

The eight-year-old, who notched up a hat-trick with a dominant display last time at the Cheltenham Festival, has been tried at three miles before when finishing a respectable third to Champ in the RSA Novices' Chase in 2020, while he also won a Grade 3 novice hurdle over the distance and placed in an Albert Bartlett.

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

In contrast to the rampant support of Allaho there is no such haste in backing Clan Des Obeaux, who won this race last year for champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

Last year's winner Clan Des Obeaux continues to drift in the marketCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The recent Aintree Betway Bowl winner has not proved popular with punters on Wednesday and has drifted out to 13-2 (from 5).

On the other hand, Galvin, trained by Gordon Elliott, is proving particularly popular in the betting having been as big as 7-1 on Tuesday but has since been well supported into 4-1 second favourite behind Allaho.

The County Meath handler had a fine start to the five-day festival with a 21,293-1 four-timer and that performance may have influenced interest in Galvin.

The eight-year-old put up a good showing in the festival showpiece on his last start, staying on to narrowly miss out on third, but this test may be more to his liking having won over track and trip last year.

Handicapper backed

There has been support for the Peter Fahey-trained Freedom To Dream in the Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final (4.15), with 7-4 the best available about the seven-year-old (from 5-2).

Connections took this race last year with subsequent Imperial Cup winner Suprise Package and will attempt to make it back-to-back wins with Freedom To Dream, fourth in the Martin Pipe on his last start.

Can David Pipe's or Nicky Henderson's favourite deliver first British success?

British-trained runners provide two of the first three favourites on day two of the Punchestown festival following sustained support for the David Pipe-trained Thanksforthehelp.

The five-year-old now trades as a general 9-2 favourite for the 24-runner handicap which opens the card (3.40). The maiden runs off bottom weight, in the green and gold of champion owner JP McManus, and steps up in trip for his handicap debut after placing in all three of his novice hurdles.

Nicky Henderson looking to notch a British success at PunchestownCredit: Edward Whitaker

Nicky Henderson is the other trainer looking to get an early winner on the board for Britain when he provides the favourite in the 2m4f Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle (4.45).

Fils D'Oudairies has finished second on both his starts for Henderson since returning to this discipline after being solely campaigned over fences this season for previous trainer Joseph O'Brien. He is the highest-rated runner in the field and the market has spoken positively of his chances.

However, Willie Mullins and Jessica Harrington have split the last six renewals of this race evenly between themselves and provide the next four in the betting to throw down a strong resistance to the British challenger.

Punchestown market movers

3.40 Thanksforthehelp 9-2 (from 6), Conron 33-1 (from 66)
4.15 Freedom To Dream 7-4 (from 5-2)
5.20 Allaho 11-8 (from 7-4), Galvin 4-1 (from 7)
6.30 American Mike 11-4 (from 7-2)

Updated at 3pm

Ground and weather: unchanged ahead of day two

The ground for day two of the Punchestown festival remains good to yielding, yielding in places on the hurdle and chase track and good on the cross-country course following watering after racing on Tuesday.

The hurdlers will be running on fresh ground, and with the weather expecting to be dry over the coming days no change in the going is expected.

Posted at 9am

Non-runners

3.40 22. Mr Moondance (stone bruise)
4.15 11. Choice Of Words (in season), 14. Sekifi (ran yesterday)
7.45 3 Carrig Carol (coughing)

Updated at 12.35am

Read more Wednesday previews:

3.35 Ascot: last year's Gold Cup second Princess Zoe takes on promising stayers in Sagaro

4.10 Ascot: Go Bears Go bids to build on superb juvenile season in Commonwealth Cup

5.20 Punchestown: The Nice Guy puts unbeaten record on the line as Albert Bartlett 1-2-3 clash

5.55 Punchestown: unmissable insight from connections on a 'red-hot' Punchestown Gold Cup

6.30 Punchestown: Cheltenham hero Facile Vega renews rivalry with American Mike

7.05 Punchestown: 'A revelation over fences' - Ciel De Neige in frame to hand Mullins a winner

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