Punchestown Gold Cup 2013

[Sprinter]

Jumps not over yet

HENDERSON CONFIRMS LONG RUN AND RIVERSIDE

Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Sir Des Champs, trained by Willie Mullins, is set to face some stiff opposition in his bid to land the Grade 1 €150,000 the tote.com Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday, April 24.

Britain's champion-trainer elect Nicky Henderson is to send his 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and dual King George VI Chase hero Long Run for the 3m 1f showpiece on what will be the horse's first visit to Ireland. Long Run will be accompanied by stablemate Riverside Theatre, the winner of last year's Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham who is part-owned by actor James Nesbitt.

"It's very much the plan to take Long Run to the tote.com Punchestown Gold Cup and we are also intending to run Riverside Theatre in the same race. As things stand they are both due to run. They've come out of Cheltenham very well so we are looking forward to Punchestown, where I expect to send a good team," said Henderson.

There are 19 entries in what promises to be a memorable renewal of the 3m 1f contest with the Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Stone, winner of the Grade 1 JNWine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal in November, another likely runner. First Lieutenant, winner of Thursday's Grade 1 Betfred Bowl at Aintree, is also a possible starter, with Philip Hobbs intending to run Captain Chris, who won the 2011 Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown.

THE TOTE.COM PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP (GRADE 1), €150,000, 3M 1F, 5YO+

1 Captain Chris (Philip Hobbs GB)

2 Chicago Grey (Gordon Elliott)

3 First Lieutenant (Mouse Morris)

4 Forpadydeplasterer (Tom Cooper)

5 Joncol (Paul Nolan)

6 Kauto Stone (FR) (Paul Nicholls GB)

7 Long Run (FR) (Nicky Henderson GB)

8 Noble Prince (GER) (Paul Nolan)

9 Pandorama (Noel Meade)

10 Quel Esprit (FR) (Willie Mullins)

11 Quito De La Roque (FR) (Colm Murphy)

12 Riverside Theatre (GB) (Nicky Henderson GB)

13 Roi Du Mee (FR) (Gordon Elliott)

14 Seabass (Ted Walsh)

15 Sir Des Champs (FR) (Willie Mullins)

16 Sizing Europe (Henry de Bromhead)

17 Teaforthree (Rebecca Curtis GB)

18 What A Friend (GB) (Paul Nicholls GB)

19 Whodoyouthink (Oliver McKiernan)

[Sprinter]

Same day

IRISH DAILY MIRROR NOVICE HURDLE (GRADE 1), €80,000, 3M, 4YO+

1 At Fishers Cross (Rebecca Curtis GB)

2 Ballycasey (Willie Mullins)

3 Champagne Fever (Willie Mullins)

4 Cloudy Copper (Jonjo O'Neill GB)

5 Don Cossack (GER) (Gordon Elliott)

6 Inish Island (Willie Mullins)

7 Morning Assembly (Pat Fahy)

8 O'Faolains Boy (Rebecca Curtis GB)

9 Our Vinnie (Charles Byrnes)

10 Road To Riches (Noel Meade)

11 Rule The World (GB) (Mouse Morris)

12 Seefood (Dessie Hughes)

13 Sizing Gold (Henry de Bromhead)

14 Touch The Eden (FR) (Willie Mullins)

15 Bonisland (GB) (Gordon Elliott)

16 Follow The Sign (Oliver McKiernan)

17 Gevrey Chambertin (FR) (David Pipe GB)

18 Gold Bullet (Tom Taaffe)

19 Mullaghanoe River (Noel Meade)

20 Pont Alexandre (GER) (Willie Mullins)

21 Rogue Angel (Mouse Morris)

22 Un Atout (FR) (Willie Mullins)

23 Up And Go (FR) (Donald McCain GB)

24 Glens Melody (Willie Mullins)

25 Unika La Reconce (FR) (Willie Mullins)

[Old Vic]

Stats for the Gold Cup http://www.fatjockey.com/festivals/r...d-Cup-Stats-24

[Statto]

Captain Chris seems to be a steamer on a RH basis but I am keen on another on same basis.

Riverside Theatre's form going Right Handed is 11131F1216. The 3 was as a novice hurdler behind Hurricane Fly and ahead of Go Native. The 2 was in a King George behind Long Run and ahead of Kauto.
The 6 was before ulcers diagnosed.

In comparison his LH form is a rather modest 3214151P4. The last 4 was as the fastest finisher in the Ryanair this year (a bit like his Arkle run). Needs a trip now imo and is a solid each way shot at 12s.

[Old Vic]

FWIW I think Riverside Theatre is better on flat tracks...not sure there is a handed problem. Goes up hills well but doesn't seem to travel as well going downhill..have no idea why that should be so and may be talking thru my behind anyway.

[Old Vic]

on same day...

6.40pm Wednesday, April 24
GUINNESS HANDICAP CHASE (GRADE A), €80,000, 2M

1 Away We Go (Willie Mullins)
2 Bangonform (Davy Fitzgerald)
3 Beneficial Spirit (Philip Rothwell)
4 Blackstairmountain (Willie Mullins)
5 Blazing Beacon (Frank McGuinness)
6 Call The Police (Willie Mullins)
7 Canaly (Dessie Hughes)
8 Carlito Brigante (Gordon Elliott)
9 Days Hotel (Henry de Bromhead)
10 De Valira (James Morrissey)
11 Definite Class (Dessie Hughes)
12 Easter Meteor (GB) (Emma Lavelle GB)
13 Fisher Bridge (Noel Meade)
14 Foildubh (John Ryan)
15 Harpsy Cord (Jim Dreaper)
16 Home Farm (Arthur Moore)
17 Jacksonslady (Philip Dempsey)
18 Jamsie Hall (Gordon Elliott)
19 Joncol (Paul Nolan)
20 Kid Cassidy (Nicky Henderson GB)
21 Klepht (Tom Mullins)
22 Lambro (Willie Mullins)
23 Last Time D'Albain (FR) (Liam Cusack)
24 Lastoftheleaders (Arthur Moore)
25 Mr Cracker (Michael Hourigan)
26 Nadiya De La Vega (FR) (Nicky Henderson GB)
27 Orpheus Valley (Tom Gibney)
28 Pass The Hat (GB) (Arthur Moore)
29 Questions Answered (Eric McNamara)
30 Rathlin (GB) (Mouse Morris)
31 Romanesco (FR) (Gordon Elliott)
32 Rubi Light (FR) (Robbie Hennessy)
33 Seabass (Ted Walsh)
34 Spring Heeled (Jim Culloty)
35 Sumkindasuprstar (John Clifford)
36 Supreme Doc (Donal Dorgan)
37 Sweeney Tunes (GB) (Paul Nolan)
38 Sweet My Lord (FR) (Willie Mullins)
39 Thegreatjohnbrowne (Noel Meade)
40 Tranquil Sea (Edward O'Grady)
41 Triolo d'Alene (FR) (Nicky Henderson GB)
42 Tullintain (Robert Tyner)
43 Vulcanite (Charlie Longsdon GB)
44 Well Regarded (Emma Lavelle GB)

[Old Vic]

Both Giggys to run...

GIGGINSTOWN DUO FIRST LIEUTENANT AND SIR DES CHAMPS BOTH GOING FOR GOLD

First Lieutenant, an impressive winner of Aintree's Grade 1 Betfred Bowl on Friday, is likely to join Gigginstown House Stud's strong team in what promises to be a great renewal of the €150,000 the Bet Online With The Tote.com Punchestown Gold Cup at the Punchestown Festival on Wednesday, April 24.

The Mouse Morris-trained eight-year-old is set to line up alongside the same owner's Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Sir Des Champs (trained by Willie Mullins) and dual Grade 1 winner Quito De La Roque (trained by Colm Murphy), who finished fourth to First Lieutenant at Aintree.

Eddie O'Leary, racing manager of Gigginstown House Stud, said today: "All going well the plan is for Sir Des Champs to run in the Bet Online With The Tote.com Punchestown Gold Cup. We were second at Cheltenham and you can't change the result but we'll hope for a good show at Punchestown.

"There's a good chance that First Lieutenant will run as well. It's been all good so far with him after Aintree and the horse will line up as long as he tells us he wants to run. Quito De La Roque is likely to go for the race as well. We were happy enough with him at Aintree - he ran a very good race at his level and probably just wasn't quite good enough there."

[mayo]

To the top.

If it soft Id be keen on Long Run but nit sure we have seen him have this long a season before now?

Can throw out funny results these end of season races.