Could top-class Kemboy be the Punchestown Gold Cup play? We assess his chances

Four of the last seven editions of the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (5.55 Wednesday) have been won by Willie Mullins who, following the withdrawal of Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Minella Indo, appears to have red-hot claims again with Al Boum Photo, but could the trainer have another ace in the pack in Kemboy?

We analyse his big-race claims, highlighting the reasons why he could serve it up to his rivals in Wednesday's feature Grade 1.

5.55 Punchestown Wednesday: Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup racecard and betting

Form

Kemboy began the 2020-21 campaign in respectable fashion by finishing second to Presenting Percy in a Listed chase at Thurles in November before a somewhat remarkable effort in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, when he led at a strong pace before being headed by stablemate Melon.

He then regained the advantage only to be agonisingly denied by an inspired A Plus Tard late on.

The nine-year-old enjoyed his moment in the spotlight by landing the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown's Dublin Racing Festival in February, but made no impact in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, finishing an 85-length ninth.

2021 Punchestown Gold Cup: the runners, the odds, the verdict

Cheltenham hoodoo

That was not the first time Kemboy had flopped at the festival as he was seventh in the Gold Cup in 2020 and unseated David Mullins at the first fence in it the year before.

He made the frame when fourth in what was the JLT Novices' Chase in 2018 and finished fifth in the Neptune (now Ballymore) four years ago, but never looked like winning.

Al Boum Photo: favourite for the Punchestown Gold CupCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Kildare love affair

Whatever Kemboy does not like about Cheltenham, he seems more than at home at Punchestown in County Kildare, despite not firing at the 2017 meeting.

He rebounded to win a novice handicap chase in fine style 12 months later before etching his name into jumping history when Ruby Walsh won the 2019 Punchestown Gold Cup on him then sensationally retired.

He is 4-6 in April and May and recorded his joint-best Racing Post Rating when downing Al Boum Photo in that aforementioned Punchestown Gold Cup, the last time this race was run after the coronavirus pandemic forced its cancellation last year.

Verdict

Al Boum Photo deserves to be favourite, but he has to recover from a rare off-day at Cheltenham, while Clan Des Obeaux was impressive in first-time cheekpieces at Aintree during the Grand National meeting, although he had perhaps not fully fired until then this season.

Kemboy has to bounce back as well, but he has done that before and might be the play at tastier odds than his other two big rivals.

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Read more on day two at Punchestown:

5.20 Punchestown: Telmesomethinggirl takes on the boys in Grade 1 clash of three Cheltenham stars

5.55 Punchestown: redemption for Al Boum or can Clan do it for the visitors in Gold Cup cracker?

6.30 Punchestown: Mullins expecting another 'very close call' between Sir Gerhard and Kilcruit

7.00 Punchestown: can Mullins' Livelovelaugh reproduce Aintree heroics in €80,000 handicap chase?

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