Punchestown Gold Cup: Allaho, Clan Des Obeaux and Minella Indo clash in epic

Wednesday: 5.55 Punchestown
Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1) | 3m | 5yo+ | RTE2/RTV

Paul Nicholls has accepted the challenge facing Clan Des Obeaux is a tougher one than when he won the race last year but still believes the evergreen ten-year-old has plenty in his favour as he bids to become the first back-to-back winner since Neptune Collonges in 2007 and 2008.

Only one ten-year-old has won the race since 2003 – Carlingford Lough in 2016 – but it certainly didn't look as though age was catching up on Clan Des Obeaux in the Betway Bowl at Aintree 20 days ago as he repelled Irish Gold Cup winner Conflated and Kemboy.

The blinkers worn for the first time at Aintree are retained and a mark of 172 makes him officially the second best horse in the race, 4lb shy of Allaho.

Nicholls said: "He comes good in the spring, loves the track and enjoys going right handed. Our horses are flying at the moment with 12 winners last week and, provided Clan didn't have too hard a race at Aintree, he should be up to the challenge. We're really looking forward to it."

The 13-time champion trainer in Britain added: "This year's renewal looks a bit stronger with Willie Mullins running five, including Al Boum Photo and Allaho who won the Ryanair and has to prove he stays three miles.

"It's a really competitive Grade 1, but I couldn't be happier with Clan who bounced back to form at Aintree wearing blinkers for the first time."

Harry Cobden is expecting to follow Allaho and try to pounce up the straight, hoping to exploits any chinks in his stamina.

Cobden said: "It's a red-hot race and I suppose the question is whether Allaho will stay three miles. He'll probably make the running, so I'd say we'll follow him around and see what happens.

"Our horse is in good form, he was great at Aintree and has come out of it well. He's had plenty of days since then to get him 110 per cent, exactly the same as last year. He's got the blinkers on and we're ready for it."

'Allaho is stronger now and he's the one they all have to beat'

Paul Townend thinks Allaho is a stronger horse now compared to the last time he tackled three miles in 2020 and believes he is the one to beat despite the stamina doubts.

Allaho has annihilated his rivals in the Ryanair for the last two years but the big question is whether he will see out the three-mile trip. If he ever is to do it, it will be around Punchestown according to the man on board.

Townend, who will be crowned Irish champion for the fifth time this week, said: "He put in a massive performance to win the Ryanair for a second year in a row. If he's going to get three miles we think he'll get it around Punchestown. He loves the track."

Allaho: top-rated among a field of stars in the Punchestown Gold CupCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Speaking in his Ladbrokes blog, he added: "It's a very hot race, you've got Clan Des Obeaux who won the race last year and was very good at Aintree. You've got Fakir D'Oudairies who won at Aintree as well and the Gold Cup runner-up in Minella Indo. It's going to be the race of the week potentially and, of course, Al Boum Photo is a dual Gold Cup winner as well. He doesn't look to be at his best of late, though.

"I do think Allaho is the one they have to beat if he stays the trip. He's been tried over three miles before and it didn't really work out for him, but he's stronger now and it's hard to look past the performances he has put up in the Ryanair for the last two years."

'Indo ran a blinder in the Gold Cup, we were delighted with him'

Turning for home in last month's Gold Cup, Robbie Power felt jump racing's most prestigious prize was within touching distance. The 2021 winner had skipped a few lengths clear off the bend and the thorough stayer was trading at a low of 1.5 on Betfair.

There was only one problem – A Plus Tard. Once Rachael Blackmore burst through the gap, there was only going to be one winner and there was 15 lengths between the pair at the line.

There is no A Plus Tard around this time and Henry de Bromhead is hoping for a bold show, saying: "He ran a blinder in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, we were delighted with him. We knew he was in good form going there after running well in the Irish Gold Cup previously but it still was great to see him show up well like that.

"He seems really well. He obviously likes Cheltenham but has also won around Punchestown so we're looking forward to running him here."

'This is a proper Punchestown Gold Cup but Galvin goes there in great form'

Having presumed at the start of the season that Galvin might develop into a half-decent staying handicapper, the eight-year-old has spent the campaign making fools of us all.

Last year's National Hunt Chase winner announced himself a top-class stayer in the Savills Chase when a late surge got him up to beat none other than A Plus Tard. There looked to be no fluke about it either, he beat him fair and square.

Galvin was unable to repeat the feat in the Gold Cup, in which he was sent off 100-30 second favourite, but he never really looked in his comfort zone at Cheltenham and when Minella Indo quickened the tempo after three out he was unable to get into a challenging position.

That was his first outing since Christmas so he comes here fresher than most and Gordon Elliott is expecting a big run, while also acknowledging it is a cracking contest.

Galvin: reported in great form by trainer Gordon ElliottCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Elliott said: "Galvin's in great form. We had him on Mornington beach at the weekend just giving him an away day and keeping him fresh. He seems to be in good order since Cheltenham.

"This is a proper Punchestown Gold Cup and it'll be a tough race but since he won at Punchestown at the start of the season and went on to win the Savills at Christmas, he's earned the right to be running in it."

'We're very pleased with Fakir'

Allaho is not the only contender with stamina questions to answer. Fakir D'Oudairies has arguably produced the best performances of his career in the Marsh Chase at Aintree for the last two years in a row, but that is over 2m4f and this is 3m.

His previous runs over the trip, including in this race last year when third to Clan Des Obeaux, have yielded little dividend but he has always looked a strong stayer over the intermediate trip.

Trainer Joseph O'Brien said: "He's been in good form since Aintree. This looks a really hot race, but we're very pleased with him and we're looking forward to running him."

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

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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