Galopin Des Champs headlines another tremendous looking line-up for the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday, where the field of eight also includes old rival Fastorslow, as well as Hewick and a fascinating contender in Corach Rambler.

Willie Mullins and Audrey Turley’s dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner is bidding to emulate Sizing John in securing a calendar Gold Cup treble, having also won the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February.

Sizing John achieved his feat after a dramatic finish involving Djakadam and Coneygree in 2017.

Last year’s renewal was another cracker, when the Martin Brassil-trained Fastorslow shocked Galopin Des Champs, with last year’s Cheltenham runner-up, Bravemansgame in third.

Fastorslow repeated the trick in the John Durkan Memorial at Punchestown in November but had to play second fiddle in the Irish Gold Cup, having missed the Savills Chase won by Galopin Des Champs at Christmas due to the testing ground.

The bid for Cheltenham glory ended in disappointment as regular partner JJ Slevin was unshipped at the 16th while Fastorslow was still travelling well.

Galopin Des Champs went on to post back-to-back triumphs in the Cheltenham blue riband, putting jockey Paul Townend on a pedestal with Pat Taaffe as a four-time winner of the race in the process, with the staying-on former Grand National winner – and conqueror of Fastorslow in the 2023 Ultima Handicap – Corach Rambler in third.

Relishing the challenge

Brassil reports his charge to be in good order ahead of what should be a thrilling affair.

“We’re very happy with him and looking forward to the challenge again,” said Brassil this morning. “He has no ill-effects from Cheltenham and it’s been a trouble-free passage to get him where he is now and it’s all systems go.

Although their Cheltenham hopes ended prematurely, Brassil concedes that it might leave him with a fresher horse than some of his rivals on Wednesday.

“It definitely wouldn’t have left a mark anyway,” the Curragh-based Clare native noted.

Brassil cannot quite put his finger on why Fastorslow has such a good record against Galopin Des Champs at Punchestown, apart from when the Saint Des Saints gelding finished 21 lengths in arrears in the 2022 John Durkan at the start of his novice season.

But it is obvious that the eight-year-old enjoys it around the Kildare arena at which his owners, Seán and Bernardine Mulryan are long-time sponsors.

“I don’t know what it is but he knows the place well anyway. He seems to act really well out there. He’s never been out of the first couple at Punchestown, bar his first run over fences for me.”

King George VI Chase winner Hewick, trained by Shark Hanlon and ridden by Jordan Gainford, adds to the star quality and Corach Rambler provides a significant cross-channel dimension on a week when the British contingent has increased significantly.

Russell is out for redemption

Punchestown came under the radar for trainer Lucinda Russell after the Jeremy ten-year-old’s bid for back-to-back Grand Nationals came a cropper at the first. His appearance gives Sligo man, Derek Fox the opportunity to land a huge prize in the €300,000 contest on a rare ride on his native sod.

“He’s schooled since and jumped really well,” said Russell on Friday. “He just seems really fresh and happy.”

Two other Cheltenham winners are bidding to complete the Punchestown Grade 1 double, with the Gordon Elliott-trained Albert Bartlett victor, Stellar Story the one to beat among the octet declared for the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle. Elliott also has Martin Pipe winner, Better Days Ahead involved.

Dual Grade 1 winner Dancing City is one of four representing Willie Mullins and this contest could be a key one in the race to be champion jockey, as Stellar Story’s pilot, Jack Kennedy attempts to hold off the expected charge of Dancing City’s rider, Paul Townend.

The card’s third top-flight contest is the Race & Stay At Punchestown INH Flat Race in which Jasmin De Vaux, the horse that provided Willie Mullins with his 100th Cheltenham winner and the mount of the trainer’s son and assistant Patrick, seeks to confirm the Cheltenham form with Gordon Elliott’s runner-up, Romeo Coolio, who has Harry Swan in the plate.

Barry Connell saddles hugely impressive Naas bumper winner, William Munny, who will have Finian Maguire doing the steering.

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