Going for Gold: high-quality five with a dozen Grade 1s between them lock horns

3.40 Leopardstown
Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (Grade 1) | 3m½f | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTE2/RTV

Melon is the odd one out. Hard as it is to believe, he is the only one of this high-quality field not to have won at the top level. The rest have a dozen Grade 1 wins between them.

It is not for a lack of trying, that's for sure. He has been runner-up in five Grade 1s, including a gut-wrenching defeat by a nostril in the Marsh Novices' Chase last year.

A first try at three miles in the Savills Chase, for a fleeting moment, looked like it might end in victory. He hit a lot of 1.6 on Betfair as he glided into the lead down the back straight, but an indecisive leap at the second-last stalled his momentum and he was outstayed by A Plus Tard and Kemboy.

He is the pick of Paul Townend here and the least exposed of the lot over this trip. When in full flow, he is a spectacular sight over a fence. The worry would be whether a more patient ride might take the joy away from his jumping and the lengths he was making on his rivals might be surrendered. He is such a fascinating contender no matter what way he is ridden.

Kemboy and Melon (right) took each other on too early in the Savills Chase, won by A Plus Tard (red silks, blue cap)Credit: Caroline Norris

You sort of know what you are going to get with Kemboy. He likes Leopardstown, he likes to make the running and he is capable of posting a RPR of 178. However, that display, when he saw off Al Boum Photo at Punchestown in what proved to be Ruby Walsh's final ride, is almost two years old now.

His last three RPRs have been 163, 167 and 169 and, if left alone in the lead, he would be very dangerous. The better the ground, the better his chance.

You can guarantee what happened in the Savills Chase won't happen again here. Kemboy and Melon will not be at each other's throats for the final mile.

Minella Indo was 5-2 favourite for the Savills Chase, but his race ended at the eighth fence with an uncharacteristic error. He is normally a superb jumper and it will be interesting to see whether his confidence is affected.

Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup card and betting

He was a few strides away from winning the RSA only for Champ to somehow spoil the party and it was hard to find fault in what he did at Wexford and Navan prior to his Christmas mishap. He still has serious potential as a staying chaser.

The Storyteller continues to pen tales we never thought he was capable of writing. He is now a two-time Grade 1 winner, his Ladbrokes Champion Chase victory a clear indication of the gladiator he has developed into. Whether he is good enough to win a contest of this calibre is questionable, though.

That leaves us with stablemate Delta Work, who has no such questions to answer. He is the highest-rated runner in the race; the defending champion; the Leopardstown lover and yet only stablemate The Storyteller is a less likely winner according to the market. That makes little sense.

Delta Work has to repair his reputation but a small field around Leopardstown is surely the ideal scenario for him to do so. At the current prices, he has to be the play.

A clear round and a big show expected from Minella Indo

Henry de Bromhead went into the Savills Chase thinking he might have a genuine Cheltenham Gold Cup contender. He came out of it knowing he definitely had one, but it was A Plus Tard rather than Minella Indo.

The RSA runner-up was sent off favourite, but fell at the eighth fence as his stablemate went on to land the spoils.

The good news for Minella Indo fans is that De Bromhead has reported his schooling to have gone swimmingly since. He is likely to be sent off favourite again and is 8-1 with Paddy Power to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup next month.

De Bromhead said: "Minella Indo was running a nice race before falling at the eighth in the Savills Chase over Christmas. That was disappointing for all concerned but he has schooled well since and hopefully he’ll put that behind him. Rachael [Blackmore] schooled him last week and she was very happy with him. I’m hopeful of a big show."

Tactics to be tweaked for Melon says Mullins

A penny for Willie Mullins' thoughts during the Savills Chase. For most of the final mile it looked like he had the forecast wrapped up as Melon and Kemboy scampered clear of the pack. They did too much too soon, though, and teed it up for A Plus Tard.

Mullins will not want to see a repeat of that on this occasion and he admitted tactics will be altered on Melon, with champion jockey Paul Townend taking over in the saddle.

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Mullins said: "The rain will be a help to Melon and, with a change of tactics, we could see a nice bit of improvement from him. Both him and Kemboy ran crackers in the Savills Chase so we have no fears over the trip or track with them."

Mullins does fear the ground for Kemboy. His best form is on a decent surface and it was officially good ground when he destroyed his ten rivals in the 2018 Savills Chase under an enterprising David Mullins ride.

Mullins said: "Kemboy loves to be quick out of the gate and bowl along, which suits him around here. The rain won’t be a help for him though."

Defending champion Delta Work back for more

This time last year Delta Work was the hottest property around the staying chasing scene in Ireland. He had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the Savills Chase and repeated the feat in this race with a typically tenacious display. Since then, however, it has been a tale of woe.

A whole host of errors put paid to any chance he had of winning a Cheltenham Gold Cup, eventually doing well to plug on into fifth. He was disappointing on his return to action in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal, but he always needs the first run of his campaign to blow away the cobwebs so there was nothing to worry about.

Delta Work: bidding for back-to-back Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup victoriesCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

It was far too early to know how he would have fared in the Savills Chase, unseating Sean Flanagan at the ninth, so this will tell us where we stand with Delta Work. Jack Kennedy is back on board, this is his track and the small field is just what he wants. There are plenty of positives.

Gordon Elliott said: "It was unfortunate what happened to Delta Work at Christmas, but he's been fine since and everyone seems to be very happy with him at home.

"We know he likes Leopardstown and he was very good in this race last year, so he has plenty going for him. He's a very good horse on his day who has won a lot of very good races."

On The Storyteller, Elliott added: "He's been a revelation. He's so versatile and always gives everything. Whether it's hurdles or fences, he just adapts. He probably has a bit to find with some of them but he deserves to take his chance."

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