'There's not a lot between Blue Lord and Gabynako' with Gentlemen De Mee out

Thursday: 6.35 Punchestown
Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (Grade 1) | 2m | 5yo+ | RTV/RTE2

With Ferny Hollow on the sidelines, it felt as though the two-mile novice chasing division was in need of a shot in the arm before Gentleman De Mee's impressive Aintree display in the Maghull Novices' Chase.

Of course, Edwardstone was easy on the eye and could do no more when scooting clear of the Arkle field at Cheltenham, but not many would have viewed that as a vintage edition of the race.

It turned out the winner's RPR of 164 was lower than each of the last eight Arkle winners bar Put The Kettle On, who ran to 160 while receiving the 7lb mares' allowance.

Gentleman De Mee: made the breakthrough at Grade 1 level at Aintree earlier this monthCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

A reproduction of Gentleman De Mee's classy display to overhaul Edwardstone at Aintree when recording an RPR of 167 would have made him bombproof. His nearest rivals on ratings, Gabynako and Blue Lord, are both rated 156.

On Thursday morning however, Gentleman De Mee was declared a non-runner, the reason given respiratory infection/bad scope and Blue Lord has surged to the top of the market.

Willie Mullins, seeking a sensational seventh win in succession and a ninth in total, is responsible for three of the now six runners in the race this year.

Blue Lord, who finished seven and a three-quarters lengths behind Edwardstone in the Arkle, is the choice of Paul Townend but Saint Sam, unfortunate to be virtually knocked out of the same race by a faller at the fourth, should not be underestimated from a place perspective.

Gabynako justified Gavin Cromwell's decision to supplement the Drinmore runner-up for the Arkle at a cost of £8,000 when finishing a creditable second at Cheltenham, earning £38,610.

Gabynako: emerged with credit from excellent second in the Sporting Life ArkleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Given he likes decent ground, the mount of Keith Donoghue is expected to give his opposition the most to think about. He is rated 6lb clear of Haut En Couleurs, who we probably haven't seen the best of yet this season but is difficult to fancy with huge conviction.

Henry de Bromhead is double-handed with Coeur Sublime, one who must jump better than when seventh in the Arkle, and 131-rated mare Maskada, making her stable debut after being picked up for £80,000 at an online ThoroughBid sale last month.

Townend: 'There's not a lot between Blue Lord and Gabynako'

Paul Townend believes there is little to separate Irish Arkle winner Blue Lord and Cheltenham runner-up Gabynako.

The man who will be crowned officially Irish champion jockey for a fifth time later this week likely knows the two-mile novice chasing division better than most.

Townend has ridden Blue Lord in each of his four starts over fences this season, including when finishing three and a half lengths behind Gabynako at Cheltenham, and won beginners' chases earlier in the campaign on Saint Sam and Haut En Couleurs.

Blue Lord (right): got the better of Riviere D'Etel in a dramatic finish to the Grade 1 Patrick Ward & Co Solicitors Irish ArkleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Townend said in his Ladbrokes blog: "Blue Lord is a Grade 1 winner from earlier in the season and there's not a lot between him and Gabynako. He was ridden differently at Cheltenham; Gabynako came from off the pace and I suppose picked up the pieces."

"Saint Sam came down early in the Arkle but ran a cracker behind Blue Lord at Leopardstown before that. Haut En Couleurs ran well in the Arkle for a long way but finished weakly, so he's on a bit of a retrieval mission."

Gabynako primed to go one better after Arkle second

After hitting the crossbar twice at the highest level this season, Gavin Cromwell is hoping Gabynako can finally make the breakthrough at Grade 1 level.

The Royal Ascot and Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer would have been content with his decision to skip the BoyleSports Gold Cup Novice Chase at Fairyhouse earlier this month after Galopin Des Champs' 18-length demolition job there.

Gabynako (yellow and black silks): finished closest to Edwardstone in the Sporting Life ArkleCredit: Edward Whitaker

His representative showed he is effective over this type of trip when last seen, having previously been campaigned over further.

"We think the ground should hopefully suit him well," said Cromwell. "He's come out of his run in the Arkle in good form and has been freshened up since.

"If Gentleman De Mee produces the sort of performance he did when beating Edwardstone at Aintree, then he's going to be very tough to beat, but we're hoping for a good run."

What they say

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Coeur Sublime and Maskada
Coeur Sublime came out of Cheltenham really well, so we're very happy with him. Maskada is new to us, she seems a nice mare with nice form in England, so we'll see how we get on.

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