Day Two of the Punchestown Festival sees nine go to post for the feature Gold Cup and whilst last year's winner Boston Bob is in the line-up bidding to defend his crown he is just the third string for the Willie Mullins team with David Casey in the plate as stable jockey Ruby Walsh prefers Djakadam and deputy Paul Townend takes the ride aboard On His Own. Djakadam boasts the strongest claims of the trio having chased home Coneygree last month in a scintillating renewal of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, however the race will have undoubtedly taken its toll on both he and Road to Riches (3rd that day) and as such Don Cossack (5.30) is chanced to stay the extended three miles.
Gigginstown House Stud retained jockey Bryan Cooper prefers Road to Riches however Paul Carberry is a more than able deputy and can guide ‘The Don' to a 7th win over fences and 5th success this season. Gordon Elliot's stable star has scored three times at the highest level already this term and was resounding 26l winner of the Melling Chase three weeks ago at Aintree under AP McCoy. He is the best horse in the race and can win this en-route to further honours next term; 8/1 with BetVictor for December's King George at Kempton and 20/1 for jump racing's blue riband.
No More Heroes (4.55) can land Elliott a G1-double in the 3m Novice' Hurdle bidding to build on an excellent third last time out at the Cheltenham Festival. The selection was an unlucky loser when hampered for room in the final furlong and can frank the form with Willie Mullins' Shaneshill having beaten the Closutton-inmate fair and square over two and a half miles earlier in the season.
Five of the thirteen runners declared for the bumper ran in last month's alternative at Prestbury Park with Robert Stephens' Modus faring best of the quintet chasing home David Pipe's Moon Racer to finish a respectable second. Henry de Bromhead's string arrive in much better form six weeks later and Supasundae (6.05) can reverse the form and better his excellent sixth place finish. The selection was having his first start for the yard after winning bumpers in Britain for Tim Fitzgerald and Andrew Balding and with the form of the latter success in particular working out well he can score for new connections under last year's winning rider Jamie Codd.
Sandra Hughes' Bright New Dawn (6.40) returns to handicap company after being tried in Grade 2 Chases at Punchestown, Gowran and Navan however should relish the forecast better ground and can get his head in front for the first time this season with the aid of first-time headgear. The 8-y-o chased home subsequent Gold Cup runner-up Djakadam 18 months ago and has form tied in with those at the highest level; chasing home Mallowney at Fairyhouse and Hidden Cyclone at the track over the minimum trip in February. The selection has C&D winning form and boasts an excellent record with jockey Bryan Cooper with their eight pairings yielding three wins and three seconds.
The first flat fixture at Ascot looks a cracker and Pallasator (3.30) is fancied to stake his Ascot Gold Cup claims with a win this afternoon. Sir Mark Prescott's gelding boasts an excellent record fresh and looks to be able to better the pair of High Jinx and Tac De Boistron; with the pair both conceding upwards of 7lb to the field and undoubtedly better on a softer surface. The Qatar Racing gelding is 16/1 with BetVictor for June's two and a half mile contest, but likely to shorten further with success this afternoon.
Henry Candy's Limato (4.05) sealed an unbeaten juvenile campaign with success in Redcar's 2-y-o Trophy and there is little to suggest that the son of Tagula won't carry his progression at three. He looks a G1-winner in waiting and can score for a third time under James Doyle en-route to a crack at the newly created ‘Commonwealth Stakes' at the Royal Meeting in six weeks' time.
John Gosden's runners appear more forward than most and Fallen for a Star (2.35) can continue the stable's excellent early season form at Pontefract. The selection comes from a smart family, related to black-type performers Fallen Idol and Fallen For You, and made a promising start when 3rd in a warm renewal of the Wood Ditton earlier this month at Newmarket. The Sea the Stars colt can build on his promising debut and shed the maiden tag at the second time of asking.
For all the latest odds head to BetVictor.com and Follow @BetVictorRacing on Twitter
Be Lucky
