Pure gold at Punchestown as Cup contenders Rocco and Respect line up

Two horses with Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup aspirations will compete at Punchestown on Thursday after Minella Rocco and Road To Respect were declared for the Grade 3 Irish Daily Star Chase.

Minella Rocco, trained by Jonjo O'Neill, chased home Sizing John at the festival in March, while Road To Respect got the better of Yorkhill in the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse having scored in the Plate Chase at the festival.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup may be a future target for Death Duty, who makes his second start over fences in the Grade 3 Buck House Novice Chase.

Owned by Michael O'Leary, Death Duty made a winning start over fences last time and trainer Gordon Elliott said in his Racing Post Stable Tour: "I think he’s a very good horse. I’ve been looking forward to getting him over fences since his bumper days and I was delighted with how he did things at Tipperary. I’m really looking forward to him this season."

Elliott and O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud are also responsible for another of the exciting names on the Punchestown card, as classy bumper performer Samcro makes his hurdles debut in the 2m maiden hurdle.

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