Racecards
15:05 Leopardstown (IRE)
Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (Grade 1) (Class 1)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 3m 44y
- Going: Yielding
- Surface: Turf
- €250,000 added
- Winner: €142,500
- 2nd: €50,000
- 3rd: €25,000
- 4th: €12,500
- Form 3/9612-2
- Age 11
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 162
- Trainer T M Walsh
- Jockey Mark Walsh
held up in rear, pushed along 4 out, in touch in rear when slightly hampered 2 out, moderate 6th and ridden before last, kept on without threatening run-in, 4th close home
- Form 0-34554
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 157
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D E Mullins
held up in rear, mistake 11th, pushed along 4 out, in touch in rear when hampered 2 out, soon ridden, went 4th at last, no extra, 5th close home
- Form 1523-13
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 158
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey D N Russell
tracked leaders, close 3rd 3 out, headway to lead after next, ridden on outer entering straight, soon strongly pressed, jumped left and joined at last, soon headed, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd last strides
- Form 1/11F1-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 175
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Paul Townend
tracked leaders, 5th 3 out, 4th when left close 3rd next, went 2nd and pushed along entering straight, disputed lead when bumped at last, led after last, stayed on strongly inside final furlong
- Form 4-62222
- Age 11
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 160
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Rachael Blackmore
led, jumped right at times, headed and ridden 3 out, 5th when left 4th 2 out, weakened
- Form 43/111-2
- Age 8
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 163
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Mr P W Mullins
tracked leader in 2nd, disputed lead 3 out, ridden and headed after next, 3rd before last, soon no impression on winner, kept on to go 2nd last strides
- Form 0P6-113
- Age 10
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 158
- Trainer Peter Fahey
- Jockey Keith Donoghue
tracked leaders, mistake 11th, improved to dispute lead 3 out, travelling fine disputing lead when fell 2 out
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Gold Cup favourite GALOPIN DES CHAMPS will be at cramped odds for this and is impossible to oppose. A Grade 1 winner over hurdles, he's been immaculate over fences apart from falling at the last when well clear at Cheltenham last year. He put that behind him in the Gold Cup at Fairyhouse and reappeared with an equally impressive victory over the very smart Fakir D'oudairies at Punchestown. Kemboy continues to perform with great credit in top chasing company but Stattler has more scope as last year's National Hunt Chase winner reappeared after a long break to be beaten a neck by Minello Indo at Tramore.
Formwatch
Any Second Now (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) In touch, 4th after 4th, took closer order before 7th, 3rd after 7th, no impression on leader after 2 out, kept on to 2nd close home, not trouble winner, 2nd of 10, 6 1/2l behind Saint Sam (11-6) at Punchestown 2m 4f Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Franco De Port (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Held up, keen hold and closer briefly 8th, towards rear and slight mistake 7 out, ridden in 6th 2 out, no impression in 5th before last, kept on same pace run-in, 4th of 7, 6 3/4l behind Conflated (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Fury Road (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, slight mistake 10th, ridden in 5th 2 out, no impression in 4th before last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 7, 6 1/4l behind Conflated (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Galopin Des Champs (FR) 2-9fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd before 4 out, challenged travelling well entering straight, led before 2 out, pushed along to assert before last where 5 lengths lead, kept on well, easily, won at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec beating Fakir D'Oudairies (11-10) by 13l, 6 ran.
Kemboy (FR) 18-5 (11-10) Led, jumped slightly right, slightly slow 3rd, joined 9th, soon headed, disputed from 5 out, headed 3 out, ridden in 2nd after 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Conflated (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Stattler (IRE) 4-5fav (11-8) Raced 3rd, not fluent 4 out, closed 2 out, soon 2nd, ridden to lead narrowly run-in, kept on, headed close home, 2nd of 5, nk behind Minella Indo (11-0) at Tramore 2m 6f (1) hvy in Jan.
The Big Dog (IRE) 11-2 (12-0) Led, headed and tracked leader after 1st, strongly pressed leader 5 out, shaken up and led narrowly 4 out, ridden, mistake and headed 2 out, kept on, no extra and lost 2nd run-in, 3rd of 17, 6 1/4l behind The Two Amigos (10-6) at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Dec.