Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 17:25 €275,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 1f, Class 1  |
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Joseph O’Brien is aiming for redemption with Banbridge at the Punchestown Festival after a disappointing run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Despite winning the King George VI Chase, the nine-year-old finished last of seven at Cheltenham. O’Brien reports the horse is in good shape and is likely to target the Punchestown Gold Cup rather than the Champion Chase he won last year. He believes Banbridge struggled with his jumping at Cheltenham but is optimistic about a strong performance over three miles at Punchestown.
Willie Mullins always shows strong support for the festival and we look forward to Galopin Des Champs competing again.
Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin has been wrapped in cotton wool for the season, with trainer Gavin Cromwell confirming the seven-year-old has begun his well-earned summer break.
Having captured National Hunt’s greatest prize in March, the rising star has now departed Cromwell’s County Meath base and returned to owner JP McManus’ Martinstown Stud in Limerick, where he’ll enjoy a few months out at grass.
Connections had floated the idea of a tilt at the Punchestown Gold Cup to round off what has already been a stellar campaign, but with ground concerns mounting and nothing but dry skies ahead, discretion has proved the better part of valour.
“He’s gone home,” Cromwell said simply. “He’s a young horse, and what he’s achieved already – winning a Gold Cup at seven – is unbelievable. We just felt it was the right time to draw stumps.”
With no rain in sight and a long road ahead, the decision speaks of long-term vision rather than short-term gain.
“Looking at the forecast, there’s no soft ground coming, so we’ll mind him. Next year, everything will be geared towards getting him back to Cheltenham. That’s the plan.”
It’s a wise move with the bigger picture in mind – a pause for breath, rather than an end, in what could yet be the beginning of something remarkable.
Punchestown Gold Cup
€275,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 1f, Class 1
11 entries
Going:
NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1 1-4U17 Banbridge 9 11-10 Joseph O'Brien
2 12-231 Gaelic Warrior 7 11-10 W P Mullins
3 2-3112 Galopin Des Champs 9 11-10 W P Mullins
4 54-333 Gentlemansgame 9 11-10 M F Morris
5 -P6253 Grangeclare West 9 11-10 W P Mullins
6 21311- Il Etait Temps 7 11-10 W P Mullins
7 416-1P Jungle Boogie 11 11-10 Henry De Bromhead
8 22-254 Monty's Star 8 11-10 Henry De Bromhead
9 3-4111 Nick Rockett 8 11-10 W P Mullins
10 U4U3P1 Senecia 8 11-10 Vincent Laurence Halley
11 211-25 Spillane's Tower 7 11-10 James Joseph Mangan
Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2024 Fastorslow 8 11-10 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Martin Brassil J J Slevin 7/2
2023 Fastorslow 7 11-10 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Martin Brassil J J Slevin 20/1
2022 Allaho 8 11-10 Cheveley Park Stud W P Mullins Paul Townend 6/5F
2021 Clan Des Obeaux 9 11-12 Mr & Mrs P K Barber, G Mason & Sir A Ferguson Paul Nicholls Sam Twiston-Davies 100/30
2020 Abandoned - Covid-19
2019 Kemboy 7-11-10 Kemboy/Brett Graham/Ken Sharp Syndicate Willie Mullins R Walsh 13/8F
2018 Bellshill 8-11-10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins DJ Mullins 4/1
2017 Sizing John 7-11-10 Ann & Alan Potts Limited Mrs J Harrington R M Power 9/10F
2016 Carlingford Lough 10-11-10 J P McManus John Kiely Barry Geraghty 12/1
2015 Don Cossack 8-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Paul Carberry 5/2
2014 Boston Bob 9-11-10 Andrea & Graham Wylie Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 5/2 Fav
2013 Sir Des Champs 7-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins Davy Russell 2/1 Fav
2012 China Rock 9-11-10 Michael O’Flynn Mouse Morris Barry Geraghty 20/1
2011 Follow The Plan 8-11-10 Redgap Partnership Oliver McKiernan Tom Doyle 20/1
2010 Planet Of Sound 8-11-10 Charles Lloyd-Baker Philip Hobbs GB Richard Johnson 14/1
2009 Notre Pere 8-11-10 Tilly Conway Jim Dreaper Andrew Lynch 15/8 Fav
2008 Neptune Collonges 7-11-10 John Hales Paul Nicholls GB Ruby Walsh 9/10 Fav
2007 Neptune Collonges 6-11-12 John Hales Paul Nicholls GB Ruby Walsh 8/1
2006 War Of Attrition 7-11-12 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris Conor O’Dwyer 4/5 Fav
2005 Kicking King 7-11-12 Conor Clarkson Tom Taaffe Barry Geraghty 8/11 Fav
2004 Beef Or Salmon 8-11-12 Joe Craig Michael Hourigan Timmy Murphy 5/4 Fav
2003 First Gold 10-12-00 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR Thierry Doumen 7/4 Fav
2002 Florida Pearl 10-12-00 Violet O’Leary Willie Mullins Barry Geraghty 13/8 Fav
*2001 Moscow Express 9-12-00 John Corr Frances Crowley Barry Geraghty 8/11 Fav
2000 Commanche Court 7-11-09 Dermot Desmond Ted Walsh Ruby Walsh 100/30
1999 Imperial Call 10-11-09 Lisselan Farms Ltd Raymond Hurley Ruby Walsh 8/1
1998 Mahler 8-10-12 English Badminton P’ship Nigel Twiston-Davies GB Carl Llewellyn 5/1
1997 Noyan 7-11-01 C H McGhie Richard Fahey GB Norman Williamson 13/2
1996 Billygoat Gruff 7-11-03 Peter Cooper David Nicholson GB Richard Johnson 7/1
1995 Butches Boy 6-10-07 Bridget Kennedy Pat Fahy Francis Woods 14/1
1994 Merry Gale 6-12-00 Herb M Stanley Jim Dreaper Kevin O’Brien 5/2
1993 Fissure Seal 7-11-01 Delton Syndicate Harry de Bromhead Graham Bradley 7/1
1992 Second Schedual 7-11-00 Hugh McMahon Arthur Moore Richard Dunwoody 12/1
1991 Local Whisper 7-10-07 Mrs Chris Harrington Arthur Bunyan Tommy Carmody 9/4 Fav
1990 Mixed Blends 8-11-00 J Spearman Mouse Morris Charlie Swan 7/4
1989 Super Furrow 9-11-09 Mrs M Marshall Jerry O’Neill Padge Gill 8/1
1988 Doubtful Venture 12-10-07 E Morrissey Paddy Mullins Conor O’Dwyer 12/1
1987 Bankers Benefit 7-10-13 Brigadier B Fowler John Fowler Anthony Powell 6/4 Fav
1986 Daltmore 8-10-01 N Coburn Paddy Mullins Tony Mullins 20/1
1985 Larry’s Latest 8-10-01 Miss A Collen Miss A Collen M Cummins 14/1
1984 Lantern Lodge 7-9-09 Mrs M Farrell Paddy Mullins Tony Mullins 7/2 Fav
1983 Pearlstone 7-10-08 William W Brainard Jnr Paddy Mullins Tony Mullins 3/1 Fav
1982 Fethard Friend 7-10-09 M Aherne Francis Flood Frank Berry 7/4 Fav
1981 Luska 7-10-01 John Brophy Paddy Mullins T V Finn 100/30
1980 Kilbricken Money 11-9-07 Mrs Charmian Hill
*Run at Fairyhouse
