Mullins and Townend double up with 'monster' Allaho

Paul Townend succinctly summed it up when stating that Allaho took his rivals out of their comfort zone in the Grade 1 Punchestown Gold Cup.

The debate had raged whether the double Ryanair winner would stay the extended three miles of this assignment but he allayed those fears with an imposing display.

He adopted customary front-running tactics but Clan Des Obeaux certainly didn't give him a freebie in front.

The leader had the field, excluding Clan Des Obeaux, on the stretch at the 11th of the 17 fences and the front pair were nicely clear of Al Boum Photo and Kemboy on the run to the fourth last.

Clan Des Obeaux was less than fluent in jumping it and Allaho cranked up the pressure three out. Kemboy then blundered two out when improving (ultimately finished fourth).

Allaho moved clear at the last, at which he wasn't foot perfect, and he was driven out by Townend to score by a healthy 14 lengths to the cheers of favourite backers who took the 6/5.

Clan Des Obeaux came home second at 11/2 and was a length and a half in front of Al Boum Photo (20/1).

Willie Mullins said: “Bryan Cooper who rode Al Boum Photo said he’d never ridden in a faster Gold Cup in his life. It was end-to-end stuff.

“He just got beaten in Cheltenham as a novice over three miles but he’s a lot more mature now and able to stay.

“I’ll have a word with the owners to see where we go. That will open a lot more options for him now and he’s going to be more mature next season.

“Another quarter of a mile (in the Cheltenham Gold Cup) is tough but I think he’s better going left-handed.”

Paul Townend added: "Harry (Cobden on Clan Des Obeaux) kept me honest.

"He went a bit to his left and didn't jump as well as he probably can to be honest. It was just probably correcting himself, he wasn't left at every fence but he was left at some of them which he has done before. I didn't want to interfere with him galloping, but at the same time I wasn't going to give him a root in the belly and set him alight and pull up three from home.

"He's just a monster, isn't he? I didn't dare turn and have a look at the back of the last, though!

"Fair play to Willie for rolling the dice and the owners. He is obviously an older ands stronger horse now.

"They were always going to test him whether he stayed or not, but he can take horses out of their comfort zone."

Cobden, jockey on Clan Des Obeaux, said: “It was a fantastic run. Allaho is an absolute machine. I was flat out everywhere and he was doing a half speed. I suspect he will turn up in the King George next year.

“I knew Allaho was one to beat and if there was any way we might beat him it was to outstay him. He’s a serious classy horse but you can’t take anything away from our lad. He’s done us all very proud.”

Paddy Power made Allaho 13/8f from 7/4 f for the Ryanair, 11/4 from 6/1 for the King George and 8/1 from 20/1 for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Mullins and Townend won the Grade 1 novice hurdle on the card with The Nice Guy

Additional reporting by Alan Magee