Champs out to steal Blackmore's thunder as Townend buckles up for a hair-raiser

Rachael Blackmore rocking up at Cork to partner her Aintree Grand National-winning mount Minella Times ought to put a bumper figure on the gate at the Mallow venue.

In different circumstances, their clash with Melon in the Baroneracing.com Chase (3.30) would be the focus of our attention. On this occasion, though, even an A-Lister of Blackmore's luminous wattage might struggle to shift the limelight away from chasing's next big thing.

Galopin Des Champs takes top billing in the Easter Sunday blockbuster that is the BoyleSports Gold Cup (4.55) at Fairyhouse. Lest you be wondering, that's the €100,000 Grade 1 novice chase that was first run in 1960 and traded for so long as the Powers Gold Cup, the single most enduring sponsorship in Irish jump racing.