Robbie Power relishing return to the big time on Gold Cup hero Minella Indo

Robbie Power is relishing the prospect of partnering Minella Indo in public for the first time in Saturday's Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup and said the nine-year-old felt great during a schooling session at Henry de Bromhead's yard last week.

There were no major shocks among the final field of eight for the day one showpiece at the Dublin Racing Festival, with only Mount Ida coming out from the five-day stage, but there was a jockey booking that raised a few eyebrows with Power rather than Rachael Blackmore on board last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.

Blackmore, who has ridden Minella Indo in 12 of his 15 starts under Rules and for five of his six wins, picked runner-up A Plus Tard over him at last year's festival, with Jack Kennedy coming in for the biggest win of his career.