Updated / Wednesday, 28 Apr 2021
10:34
Sam Twiston-Davies: To be going over there with a chance is a dream.
Sam Twiston-Davies is hoping for a dream Punchestown success today aboard the only non-Irish runner in the Gold Cup - Clans Des Obeaux.
With the withdrawal through injury of the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Indo on Monday, just six horses will contest the race, one of three Grade Ones on the card.
Four of them are trained by Willie Mullins, including the current favourite Al Boum Photo.
Clans Des Obeaux, co-owned by Alex Ferguson and trained by Paul Nicholls, was supplemented for the race last week.
UPDATED 9:43AM, APR 29 2021
Just when the patient was beginning to flatline, British jump racing’s ECG monitor flickered back into life thanks to a dominant and determined front-running performance from Clan Des Obeaux in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup.
At the end of a chastening campaign that has seen its protagonists humbled at both Cheltenham and Aintree, Paul Nicholls summoned the bulldog spirit for which he is renowned by pitching his dual King George VI Chase hero into the lion s den. Fortune favoured the brave, not least because in Sam Twiston-Davies he had an accomplice willing to embrace such a valiant policy.
Punchestown Wednesday preview: View from connections
By Sporting Life
British raider Clan Des Obeaux primed
Paul Nicholls is hoping for a bold show from
Clan Des Obeaux as he clashes with Al Boum Photo in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup.
The sole British challenger certainly has the right credentials to mix it with the best of the Irish – and was right back to his very best when winning by 26 lengths at Aintree this month.
However, he will face a completely different test to the one he passed that day.
“He won well at Aintree the other day, but he has obviously won the King George twice – and going right-handed seems to suit him better,” said Nicholls. “He’s a much more mature horse now. Cheltenham doesn’t suit him at all – that race and the ground at the time. This is much better for him.
Punchestown Gold Cup: Al Boum Photo pleasing Mullins, but faces strong opposition
Tue 27 Apr 2021
Al Boum Photo has an enhanced opportunity to add the Ladbrokes PunchestownGold Cup to his two famous Cheltenham titles.
Willie Mullins’ dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero had to settle for third behind Minella Indo last month in his quest to join the most select group of racing greats as a three-time winner.
There will be no Minella Indo in his way on Wednesday, though, after trainer Henry de Bromhead ruled the eight-year-old out of his scheduled final run of the season because of a bruised foot.
Updated / Tuesday, 27 Apr 2021
07:23
Ruby Walsh and Chacun Pour Soi
Ahead of the start of the Puncestown Festival, Ruby Walsh spoke on RTÉ s Game On, where he offered his thoughts on the Tuesday s and Wednesday s Grade One contests.
Tuesday 4.15 eCOMM Merchant Solutions Champion Novice Hurdle
With no Appreciate It, I d say Paul Townend has gone for Blue Lord because he finished second to Bob Olinger and was going to finish second to Appreciate It at Cheltenham when he fell at the last. They re the two outstanding novices.
He s gone for Blue Lord probably on that basis, but Echoes In Rain was incredibly impressive at Fairyhouse where Paul rode her but he still opts for Blue Lord.