5.55 3m. 30yds. 9 Declared. Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1) of €275,000.00 5-y-o plus
1st - €165,000.00 2nd - €55,000.00 3rd - €27,500.00 4th - €13,750.00 5th - €8,250.00 6th - €5,500.00
FormscanBy Gary Carson - CLAN DES OBEAUX follows the same path as last year and can strike again. Paul Nicholls' charge has skipped Cheltenham for the past two years, preferring to go to Aintree and then on to Punchestown. He landed the double last season and recorded a cosy victory in the first leg in Liverpool earlier this month when beating Conflated in the Betway Bowl. This is another cracking renewal of this race and it may set up nicely for the English raider. There looks sure to be plenty of pace in the race and it will be interesting to see what way they ride Allaho, who has tended to bowl along over two-and-a-half miles. He has questions to answer as regards stamina but is a brilliant performer and the one to beat if he gets the trip. Minella Indo has come alive again in the spring and it was a top notch effort to finish second in the Gold Cup to stablemate A Plus Tard. He has to be respected as does Galvin, who could be staying on late if they go very quick.
A steeplechase for five years old and upwardsWeights - 5-y-o 11st 8lbs 6-y-o and up 11st 10lbs Mares allowed 7lbs