Grade One Punchestown Gold Cup Guide 2023

Henry De Bromhead sends Envoi Allen to the Punchestown Gold Cup after showing signs of being back to his best at the Cheltenham festival last month, beating 1/1fav Shishkin by just under three lengths to claim victory in the Grade One Ryanair Chase over 2m 4f. Had previously finished seventh in the King George at Kempton but won the Champion Chase at Down Royal in November last year and now arrives here in good form, reminiscent of his novice days.

The nine-year-old will stay the trip but has to step up again in arguably better company with the likes of Bravemansgame and Galopin Des Champs being potent at this level.

Gordon Elliott sends one to the Punchestown Gold Cup, with nine-year-old Fury Road making his first appearance in this contest. The gelding has been a slight shadow of his former self in recent times, finishing outside the top two on his last four runs, including sixth in the Ryanair at Cheltenham and falling at the Grand National earlier this month.

Once a top chaser but best days probably in the past. He’s up against it at this level and would be a shock winner.

168-rated chaser who comes into the Punchestown Gold Cup after falling in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month when travelling well. Has one win amongst top company, winning the 3m 4f Gold Cup Handicap at Sandown in April last year, beating Musical Slave by eight lengths but was unable to make his mark at this level last time out.

Can do better here but so far produced nothing to suggest he will cut it at this level and the market leaders here will be very hard to beat.

Bravemansgame has been cleared to race in the Punchestown Gold Cup, and he arrives here having finished seven lengths behind favourite here Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month. The eight-year-old boasts some impressive victories in his career, winning the King George at Kempton in December, Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton.

He is a top chaser for Nicholls but runs into Galopin Des Champs who is a bit of a freak and it wouldn’t a surprise if he lost. Clear second favourite who has a big chance of finishing in the top three at the very least.

Martin Brassil sends Fastorslow to the Punchestown Gold Cup for his first crack at this following his second-place finish in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham festival last month, a neck behind winner Corach Rambler, who went on to win the Grand National earlier this month. That was the seven-year-old’s best effort over fences so far, and he hasn’t won in his career since winning Weather Permitting Chase at Auteuil back in September 2019.

Tough ask at this level, amongst some of the top chasers in the sport.

Willie Mullins sends Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs to the Punchestown festival in a bid to secure the Punchestown Gold Cup. It sets up another battle with Bravemansgame, after he beat Paul Nicholls’ gelding by seven lengths to claim the 13-runner Cheltenham Gold Cup last month. The seven-year-old would have an unbeaten record over fences if it wasn’t for that fall at the last fence when ahead of Bob Olinger in the Turners’ Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham last year and now boasts multiple graded victories.

Those victories include the Irish Gold Cup, John Durkan Chase, Gold Cup Novice Chase and he now bids for the Punchestown Gold Cup as the one to beat. Paul Townend takes the ride once again onboard the 2/7fav.