Davids Charm will be 'hard to beat' on Flat return in Kingdom Gold Cup

6.10 Killarney
K.W.D. Kingdom Gold Cup Handicap | 1m6f | 3yo+ | RTV

Davids Charm has not won for almost a year either over hurdles or on the Flat but that does not tell the whole story and this premier handicap could be where the drought ends.

The versatile performer, who is rated 144 over hurdles, finished fourth to Tudor City in the Guinness Galway Hurdle earlier this month and trainer John Joe Walsh thinks everything is in his favour on his return to the Flat.

Walsh said: "I thought he ran very well in the Galway Hurdle when you consider all that went wrong for him and the scrimmaging after passing the stands.

"He's been in good form since and, after his Curragh run earlier this season, we thought it would be only fair to give him another go at a nice pot on the Flat.

"He will love the ground too. It will be the first time he has got some cut in the ground for a while and the trip should suit him too. I would imagine he might be hard to beat."

Brazos (Shane Foley, left) beats Davids Charm (Rory Cleary, red with white sleeves) in last year's Irish Cesarewitch at NavanCredit: Caroline Norris

Brazos is back to defend the crown he won in such determined fashion last year when edging out Exchange Rate by a head with Tudor City, the Galway Hurdle hero, in fourth.

Life is tougher this time around as John Murphy’s charge is burdened with top-weight and must defy a 12lb higher mark if he is to repeat the feat.

Joseph and Donnacha O’Brien team up with Flicker Flame, with the stable also represented by the ultra-consistent Millswyn.

O’Brien said: "Flicker Flame is in good form and won nicely at Ballinrobe on her penultimate run. She seems in good form, while Millswyn has never run a bad race for us and hopefully that trend will continue."

Run For Mary may be a maiden on the Flat but he has won three bumpers and put up a very brave fight when beaten by Ascot Stakes runner-up, Buildmeupbuttercup, in a maiden at the recent Galway summer festival.

Former champion jockey Colin Keane has a 21 per cent success rate when booked by Willie Mullins, winning 12 times from 56 rides, and they team up with Legal Spin.

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