Gold Cup Day at Punchestown It’s Day Two of the Punchestown Festival with three more Grade 1 contests up for decision. The feature event is the €250,000 Punchestown Gold Cup which is down to six runners with the late defection of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo with a bruised foot. The absence of the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner opens the way for former dual-Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo to finish his season on a high. The Willie Mullins trained nine-year-old was sent off favourite for last month’s feature at Cheltenham but came home in third to the de Bromhead trained pair of Minella Indo and A Plus Tard. This looks an easier assignment and at odds of 6/4 with betway he should get the job done. Aintree scorers Clan Des Obeaux and Fakir D’oudaries look the chief treats on paper but don’t rule out a big showing from another Mullins trained runner, Kemboy. The mount of Danny Mullins won this race two years ago when beating Al Boum Photo by two lengths and will have his optimum conditions today. The €100,000 Champion Bumper taking place 35 minutes after the Punchestown Gold Cup has the potential to over-shadow the feature event as it has thrown up the mouth-watering rematch of Sir Gerhard and Kilcruit, the pair that very separated by just half a length in the Cheltenham equivalent. Kilcruit was sent off a shade of odds-on at Cheltenham and many felt him unlucky not to collect as Rachael Blackmore stole that race from the front on Sir Gerhard with the favourite closing them down in the run to the line. It is therefore a little surprising that Patrick Mullins has now chosen Sir Gerhard over Kilcruit. The experienced Derek O’Connor picks up the mount on Kicruit in what promises to be a fascinating tactical affair. The third Grade 1 contest of the day sees three Cheltenham Festival winners take each other on in the three miles Novices hurdle. The Gavin Cromwell trained Vanillier is proven over the trip having won the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham while Galopin Des Champs won the 2m4f Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle and Tellmesomethinggirl won a Mares Novice race at Cheltenham over an extended 2 miles. John McConnell’s Streets Of Doyen, third to Vanillier at Cheltenham, could represent a bit of each-way value at 20/1 with betway in this eight runner contest sporting blinkers for the first time. His best form has been on a sound surface and he can be expected to get a lot closer to Vanillier on this right-handed track. The action gets underway at 3.40pm with the final of the Adare Manor opportunity series and runs through until the action concludes with a Grade 3 Mares only Bumper at 7.35pm. New customers of betway can claim up to €30 in free bets. New customers only. Opt-in required. Min Deposit: €10. First deposit matched up to €30. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Credit Card, Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. 18+ begambleaware.org T&Cs Apply. betway also offer Best odds Guaranteed from 9am daily on all Irish and UK racing.
