Punchestown Gold Cup Preview: Maximum Respect

Sizing John completed a famous four-timer when winning this race last year, becoming the first horse to win the Irish Gold Cup, Cheltenham Gold Cup and Punchestown Gold Cup in the same season. Unfortunately, Jessica Harrington’s runner is not around to defend his title, however three-time runner-up Djakadam is back for another crack as his trainer throws everything at the Irish trainer’s championship.

Mullins' quartet

Djakadam was fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last time, shaping better than the distance beaten, his stamina stretched on ground that was more testing than his previous three Gold Cups. It has not been the best season for him so far, but he has a good record at this course, and he pushed Sizing John close when finishing second in this race last year.

Willie Mullins also runs Killultagh Vic and Bellshill, the former let down by his jumping in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last time, while Bellshill shaped with plenty of promise in the Irish Grand National. He went like the best horse at the weights on his handicap debut, briefly looking to have the race in the bag between the last two before a combination of tiredness and a brief lack of focus led to him losing all momentum at the final fence (severely hampered two rivals in the process), a move which saw him demoted from fourth to fifth by the stewards afterwards.

Bellshill remains relatively lightly raced over fences, and is well worth his place here, a comment that also applies to Total Recall – a faller when still in contention in the Cheltenham Gold Cup - who should enjoy this task more than the Grand National examination he endured just 11 days ago.

Road to Punchestown glory?

Road To Respect has come a long way since winning the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival in 2017, a bona-fide Grade 1 horse now. He didn’t quite match the form of his win at Leopardstown over Christmas, but still ran with credit when fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last time. He was perhaps unsuited by more testing ground (all of his best form has come on a sound surface), and there isn’t anything of Native River and Might Bite’s class here, so he has to be high on the shortlist with the race likely to be run to suit (strong pace likely – see Early Position Map below).

Edwulf showed when winning the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown that he is capable of producing top-class form, but he didn’t get close to showing it in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last time, finishing a well-beaten eighth. He is the type to bounce back quickly, and this isn’t as competitive, so it would be folly to ignore his claims.

Minella Rocco has had a rather truncated season, last seen when falling in the Irish Gold Cup won by Edwulf, and has missed his last two intended engagements in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National because of unsuitable ground. He is capable of high-class form, but he hasn’t won since 2016, and the lack of a recent run could tell, certainly in this company.

Elliott relying on one

The Gordon Elliott-trained Outlander is prone to running a shocker, and he again failed to fire in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month, but shaped as though back in form when sporting first-time blinkers in the Irish Grand National last time, his stamina ebbing away and ultimately pulled up before the last. The return to three miles will suit and he could outrun his odds if putting it all together.

A stunning performance from Native River who wins the Gold Cup @CheltenhamRaces and provides Richard Johnson with his second success in the race. #TheFestival

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A mention should also go to the progressive Sumo Novios, a good jumper who won a veterans’ race at Wexford in March and followed up in the Imperial Call Chase at Cork last time by two and a quarter lengths from Mala Beach. He doesn’t have the normal profile for a race like this, but is clearly in the form of his life.

Conclusion

This looks a good opportunity for Road To Respect to record his second Grade 1 of the season. He has progressed well this term, and is expected to fare better returned to likely better ground here. Given Djakadam’s record at this course, he could prove the biggest danger. He also didn’t look suited by the heavy ground at Cheltenham last time, and a repeat of his second-place finish in this race last year will see him in the mix.

Recommended bet:

Back Road To Respect to win the Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday at 9/4