Galopin Des Champs is set to clash with Spillane’s Tower in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (5.30) after a small but select field was declared for Wednesday’s showpiece.
The Willie Mullins-trained superstar was denied by Inothewayurthinkin in his quest for a third straight Cheltenham Gold Cup last month and faces just three rivals on day two of the Punchestown festival, with Banbridge and Monty’s Star completing the star-studded line-up.
Galopin Des Champs has been beaten by Fastorslow in the last two runnings of the Punchestown Gold Cup, but with that rival out injured, Spillane’s Tower looks the main obstacle to a first success in the race.
Jimmy Mangan’s stable star is on course for just his third start of the season as he bids to bounce back from his disappointing fifth when sent off favourite for the King George at Christmas.
However, before that he posted a career-best when relegating Galopin Des Champs into third when a half-length second to Fact To File at this course in the John Durkan in November.
Spillane’s Tower: winner at last year’s Punchestown festivalCredit: Patrick McCann
King George winner Banbridge was a well-beaten seventh in the Gold Cup last time, a race in which Monty’s Star finished fourth.
Grand National hero Nick Rockett held an entry for the Punchestown Gold Cup, but was among those not declared to leave just the four runners – all from different stables – to go to post.
Mullins has a typically strong hand in the day’s other two Grade 1 contests with Cheltenham Festival winners Jasmin De Vaux and Bambino Fever fancied for the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle (4.15) and Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion INH Flat Race (4.50) respectively.
Jasmin De Vaux: Albert Bartlett winner is in action at Punchestown on WednesdayCredit: Edward Whitaker
Jasmin De Vaux relished the step up to three miles when winning the Albert Bartlett last time and stays at the trip on Wednesday, paving the way for Final Demand to potentially run in Friday’s Champion Novice Hurdle over 2m4½f.
Mersey Novices’ Hurdle winner Honesty Policy represents Gordon Elliott in the race, for which Mullins has four of the eight runners.
Mare Bambino Fever, an impressive winner of the Champion Bumper, is joined by stablemate Copacabana in the seven-strong field for the Punchestown equivalent.
The ground at Punchestown was changed to yielding (from yielding to soft) on Monday morning following a drying day on Sunday.
Clerk of the course Brendan Sheridan said: “Following a dry and breezy day yesterday, the ground on all tracks is now yielding. Watering will take place now on all tracks. The forecast is for a warm and dry week.”
Banbridge JJ Slevin
Galopin Des Champs Paul Townend
Monty’s Star Rachael Blackmore
Spillane’s Tower Mark Walsh
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