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6-3U34 Deep Purple 10 11-10 Evan Williams ……..20/1
U915F3 Follow The Plan 8 11-10 Oliver McKiernan …..16/1
31-433 Joncol 8 11-10 Paul Nolan …………9/1
1F-133 Kauto Star 11 11-10 Paul Nicholls ………7/4
1-3U1P Kempes 8 11-10 W P Mullins ………..5/1
U33P02 Let Yourself Go 9 11-10 Adrian Maguire …….20/1
14431 Nacarat 10 11-10 Tom George …………9/2
B0186 Neptune Collonges 10 11-10 Paul Nicholls ……..18/1
P-2590 Notre Pere 10 11-10 Barry Potts ……….33/1
381PU Rare Bob 9 11-10 D T Hughes ………..33/1
23220 Roberto Goldback 9 11-10 Mrs John Harrington ..20/1
33-216 The Midnight Club 10 11-10 W P Mullins ……….14/1
96-117 Tranquil Sea 9 11-10 E J O´Grady ……….16/1
7744B Vic Venturi 11 11-10 D T Hughes ………..33/1The main contenders:
KAUTO STAR ran a cracker in the Gold Cup and sets the standard here. I can’t wait to see the great horse in the flesh. However, age is not on is side and he’s ran poorly before when turned out post-Cheltenham. That was at Aintree and he’ll have more time before Punchestown but still it must be a slight concern. If the Kauto that was 3rd in the Gold Cup turns up he’ll be hard to beat.
NACARAT won the Totesport Bowl in impressive fashion, beating Carol’s Legacy by 6 lengths. Paddy Brennan gave him an absolute peach of a ride that day and Punchestown may not play to his strengths as much as Aintree did. He’ll find this tougher, but that’s not to say he’s not capable of another big run.
KEMPES ran no sort of race in the Gold Cup and I think it’s best to forget about that run, Willie Mullins said he was beaten after two fences and as long as the vibes from the yard are good beforehand I’d give him a live chance. On his only previous efforts at staying trips he was mightily impressive when winning the Hennessy and the 3 mile Novice Grade 1 here last spring. At 5/1 he represents a nice e/w punt imo.
JONCOL looked like he could dominate staying chases in Ireland when winning the Hennessy from Cooldine last season, but things havn’t turned out that way. He ran a nice race without winnign in the Lexus and that looked like it would leave him spot on for the Hennessy, but he was comprehensively beaten by Kempes on his favoured soft ground. If the ground came up soft again he’d have a chance.
This is a tricky one. I think the two Ns, Neptune and Nacarat have raced too recently to be fresh enough for this. The two K’s, Kauto and Kempes, look better bets. Maybe they both prefer going right- handed as well.
But, as you say they don’t exactly inspire confidence, with age (Kauto) and inexplicable poor form (Kempes) against them.
The rest look outclassed.
Quite a poor race, Kauto Star way above these, even if he runs below form. Denman almost won last year despite running about 6 mile round the outside.
Kauto way above these? I’m not so sure. He’s my favorite horse in training but he’s not the horse he once was.
The rcae where Denman was 4th last year didn’t have a horse in contention with the potential of Kempes, who is still unexposed at the trip. Last year’s race was quite poor when you consider that Planet Of Sound, War Of Attrition, Cooldine, Denman, Siegemaster, Tranquil Sea and Follow The Plan all covered by 11 lengths.
Kauto Star will have to produce an effort capable of beating a field of that quality quite comprehensively in my opinion. Kempes, Nacarat and a couple of others have shown smart form and Kauto will need to produce a run better than his Down Royal run to win I feel.
He could well do so, he’s the comeback king at this stage, but if Kempes shows the turn of foot that saw him win the Hennessy I fear Kauto could struggle.
The pace of the race could be quite important. I guess Nacarat won’t hang around so it won’t be one of those dawdle and sprint Irish races.
A faster pace might favour Kauto over Kempes. The suspicion with Kempes was that he didn’t like the pace of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Kauto might win on stamina if Nacarat runs out of puff.
(5:30) 86D Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup (Grade 1)
€96,000.00 ( 3m 1f – 5yo+ )1 Follow The Plan(152) (OMcKiernan) – TJDoyle 11,10
2 Kauto Star (FR)(173) (PNicholls (in GB)) – RWalsh(T) 11,10
3 Kempes(162) (WPMullins) – APMcCoy(T) 11,10
4 Nacarat (FR)(162) (TGeorge (in GB)) – PJBrennan(T) 11,10
5 Rare Bob(151) (DTHughes) – PCarberry(C) 11,10
6 Roberto Goldback(154) (MrsJHarrington) – RMPower 11,10
7 Tranquil Sea(159) (EJO’Grady) – AndrewJMcNamara 11,10
8 Vic Venturi(145) (DTHughes) – BJGeraghty(B) 11,10I’m dutching my bets between The King and Kempes. A nice little reverse forecast and, bingo.
For what it’s worth, Kauto should do this field – and let’s pretend that Denman didn’t run at Aintree because, to put it one way, he
didn’t
run, if you catch my drift, so Nacarat’s form ain’t all that – because he is the greatest horse ever.
BUT! Father Time might be catching up with him, and Kempes, a shocker at Cheltenham not withstanding, is the best staying chaser currently racing in Ireland. He’s versatile, he’s tough, he’s got a turn of pace.
What a corker this should be.
BlueSky @pghenn.bsky.social
So don't run, just like the others always do
Not so sure about that, although the opposition doesn’t look that great. I’ll have to drive into town to see it live. I’ve never been a fully paid up member of the Kauto Star fan club
but I’ve developed a very deep affection and respect for the horse and I’m probably more nervous about this afternoons race than any race he’s ever been in. I so want him to retire safe and sound.
Kauto is the star of the show and proved his doubters wrong with a magnificent effort in the Gold Cup. Time has caught up with the great horse, robbing him of his most potent weapon, but he can still travel and jump as well as anything, loves racing and stays forever.
The ground should be perfect and it will take a horse at the top of his game to beat him.
I don’t think Kempes necessarily needs soft underfoot conditions. He has a solid turn of foot and won the staying champion novice event here last year from China Rock and The Midnight Club. He is still relatively unexposed over three miles and at the age of eight, is approaching his prime. Remember, he had some very good sorts behind when chasing home Hurricane Fly in the two mile novice hurdle championship at this meeting two years ago, and competed with some good yardsticks over the minimum distance over fences.
Forget his run in the Gold Cup because it was too bad to be true. He is a massive danger.
Nacarat was spectacular in winning the Totesport Bowl and will love this small field. Kauto has put him in his place before and I have doubts this track will play to his strengths.
Tranquil Sea still has questions to answer regarding the trip and has shown all his best form on a softer surface.
The remainder have plenty to find.
Would love to see Kauto take this, but Kempes is a huge threat and could upset the favourite if back on song.
Tranquil Sea still has questions to answer regarding the trip and has shown all his best form on a softer surface.
I wouldn’t dissagree with that Bos but funnily enough the only time
Tranquil Sea
has attempted this trip was in last years race and he really caught my eye under Nina Carberry,i think at 14/1 he could easily run a place now his regular pilot is back on board, any cut in the ground will help and i can see him giving his supporters a big run for their money.
I really really hope he’s retired. He’s just not got it anymore. He’s been an absolute star by name and nature, but they don’t go on forever, and I’d rather not see him racing than see him pulling up and finishing wearily well back.
He’s done more than his bit for the sport, and it’s probably time to call it a day.
Strange race, wasn’t it?
KAUTO STAR pulled up, KEMPES was nowhere to be seen, NACARAT was weel beaten…
I really hope KAUTO STAR will get what he thouroughly deserves.
Before Dessie ran in his last King George he was still pulling his work riders arms out on the gallops, so I suppose it’s only on the track that connections know how much a horse has deteriorated. I would assume that, like that race, connections won’t issue a statement about Kauto straight away because it’s not fair to hog the limelight that the winner deserves today. Sad day, though.
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