18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon

Preview punchestown 29th Apr

Tue 28th Apr 2015, 12:20

Djakadam and Road To Riches renew rivalry in the Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup.

Willie Mullins' Djakadam justified connections' high opinion of him when beating all bar brilliant novice Coneygree in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with Road To Riches back in third.

Noel Meade's runner could easily reverse that form, though, and he was very impressive in the Lexus at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Don Cossack steps up in distance after his Melling Chase hammering of Cue Card, who forms part of a decent British assault alongside fellow Aintree runner-up Ballynagour and David Bridgwater's grand servant The Giant Bolster.

Last year's winner Boston Bob and 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up On His Own, along with Flemenstar also feature in a mouthwatering renewal.

Shaneshill will have his stamina tested in the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle.

The Supreme Novices' Hurdle second went one better when upped to 2m4f at Fairyhouse, but has a further half-mile to tackle now and takes on guaranteed stayers No More Heroes and Thistlecrack.

The Attheraces.com Champion INH Flat Race is the third Grade One on day two of the Festival and, perhaps predictably, Mullins is mob-handed, with late Cheltenham Champion Bumper withdrawal Pylonthepressure the most interesting of his five.

Modus was second at Prestbury Park but the four-year-olds Charbel and Disko could be the ones to beat in receipt of weight.

There is a big pot up for grabs in the Guinness Handicap Chase, and Rathlin reverts to more conventional fences after his excellent third in the Topham at Aintree.

Racing gets under way at 3.40 with the Martinstown Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle, and Nickname Exit might prove a bit better than his mark of 123.

Sadler's Risk contested a Grade One at last year's meeting so will find the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle more to his liking, and expensive point-to-point recruit Champers On Ice catches the eye for David Pipe in the Old House, Kill INH Flat Race.