Punchestown Gold Cup 2023 runners: Repeat or revenge?
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Everybody loves a big rematch and that’s just what racing fans have got in the Punchestown Gold Cup 2023 runners.
Cheltenham Gold Cup first and second Galopin Des Champs and Bravemansgame are set to battle it out again on the Emerald Isle.
“Although the odds suggest Bravemansgame faces an uphill task to reverse the Cheltenham placings with Galopin Des Champs, the good news for race fans is the rematch has got the green light,” said Coral’s David Stevens.
Let’s take a look at all six contenders and their Punchestown Gold Cup odds:
Galopin Des Champs @ 1/3
Willie Mullins’ superstar has won six of his seven races over fences, with the only defeat coming via a fall at the final obstacle when well clear in last year’s Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
Galopin Des Champs soon put that setback behind him by signing off his novice campaign with a facile victory at Fairyhouse for a second Grade One win that term, having already landed the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival.
This season began with a comprehensive defeat of Fakir D’oudairies in the John Durkan here, before Stattler was brushed aside by eight lengths in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.
The seven-year-old was made a firm favourite for Cheltenham Gold Cup glory on the back of that perfect preparation and he lived up to the hype by powering clear of Bravemansgame up the hill for a seven-length success.
Kicking King (2005), War Of Attrition (2006) and Sizing John (2017) did the Cheltenham-Punchestown double and Mullins declared: “He’s in great shape.”
🏆 Galopin Des Champs wins the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup! 🏆
😁 @CheltenhamRaces redemption!#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend pic.twitter.com/89qqOTJjhE
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 17, 2023
Bravemansgame @ 3/1
Paul Nicholls has always held this eight-year-old gelding in high regard and everything seems to have clicked into place for him this term.
Following a smooth success on his seasonal debut at Wetherby, Bravemansgame gave the Ditcheat handler a record-extending 13th King George victory at Kempton on Boxing Day, already getting the better of L’Homme Presse before that rival unseated his rider at the last.
Did absolutely nothing wrong at Cheltenham, when prominent throughout and hitting the front at the penultimate fence, only to find Galopin Des Champs too strong on the run-in.
His connections will hope that a steadier pace, a less-demanding home straight and just over two furlongs less to travel will all be in his favour for this revenge bid.
Envoi Allen @ 9/1
Failed to show his true worth when tailed off behind Bravemansgame in the King George, with connections blaming the tacky ground and some poor jumps for his below-par display.
However, Envoi Allen can’t be ruled out of the reckoning on two other admirable triumphs this term and some will be tempted by his price in the Punchestown Gold Cup odds.
Henry De Bromhead’s charge accounted for a small but select Grade One field at Down Royal in November and kept on well in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham to upset Shishkin, who has since franked that form by landing the Aintree Bowl.
Allaho took the laurels in last year’s renewal for Cheveley Park and the stud’s managing director Chris Richardson said: “He goes to Punchestown in good order. It was wonderful to see him perform as he did at Cheltenham.
“I wasn’t really surprised that he bounced back, because he had been working well at home and so much better this year than he had. He was much more settled and relaxed in himself. Henry and Rachael were just thrilled. He was in such a good place.”
😲 Envoi Allen beats Shishkin to the Ryanair Chase
It's another win for @HenrydeBromhead!#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @rachaelblackmor pic.twitter.com/4OzDuqWURc
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 16, 2023
Hewick @ 16/1
Shark Hanlon’s American Grand National hero suffered a heavy fall in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when 40/1, but had run well for a long way and will again give his all if none the worse for that experience.
Fury Road @ 22/1
Gordon Elliott’s charge has seven wins to his credit but was well beaten by both Galopin Des Champs and Envoi Allen this season before coming down at the second fence in the Grand National at Aintree.
Fastorslow @ 50/1
The value of his neck second to Corach Rambler in the Ultima Handicap Chase was certainly enhanced by that winner’s subsequent National success but a distant fifth of six behind Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan highlights how big a challenge this is for the outsider in the Punchestown Gold Cup 2023 runners.
All odds and market correct at date of publication
