Punchestown Gold Cup 2012

5.30 Punchestown

thetote.com Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (5YO plus)

Winner €84,000

Advice: 1 pt Rubi Light (10/3 Stan James)

Apt Approach: Very good on his day and more than decent strike rate (6-17, with those all on ground called either soft or heavy), but unable to really get a blow in when rated 150 and out the back in the Topham last time and has 22 lengths to make up on Rubi Light; Passed over.

Bostons Angel: Improved out of all recognition to land three Grade 1’s in his novice season, ending with a hard fought win in the RSA Chase at the festival; Not out of things when falling in the Down Royal Champion Chase but not straightforward when last of three at Sandown and then sixth in Hennessy Gold Cup behind Quel Esprit before then pulling up in the Bobbyjo Chase; Needs much more here.

Captain Chris: Reached high point of novice season with gritty success here over 2 miles in Novice Chase; Looked set for successful season when unseating at the last in Haldon Gold Cup and while he form figures don’t speak well, his one disappointing run has been in the Argento at Cheltenham; Holds good chance on Ryanair fourth (ahead of Rubi Light) but heavy ground is the worry.

Follow The Plan: Won an attritional and rather dreadful looking renewal of this last year and shown no form sinceuntil winning the Betfred Bowl at Aintree, which to be fair to him was a strong renewal on paper; Can’t be discounted although he was well behind Quel Esprit when the pair last met and is said to want better ground, despite the fact he’s won on this surface before; Interesting each/way at 10’s.

Magnaminity: Learned the hang of chasing very quickly when winning second time out over fences; Beneficiary of fine tactical ride (admittedly did jump well) when turning over Jessies Dream a Leopardstown and then one of 4 in close RSA Chase finish (behind Bostons Angel); Ran terribly this season and while he looked as if he would play a hand in Irish National finish, he then tired badly around the home turn; Needs more.

Noble Prince: Prepped exclusively for the Ryanir since winning the Jewson at last year’s Cheltenham festival but he disappointed there this time around; Seconds to Big Zeb are more than decent form earlier on in season but thrives for better ground and this trip an unkown.

Quanatativeeasting: Proven really progressive over the past year, starting out with second in Centenary Novices Chase before paddy power second and December Gold Cup win; Disappointing at Cheltenham Festival under topweight though and while he as winning form in soft ground, more needed.

Quel Esprit: Had threatened to be a nearly horse with jumping last season but used confidence boosters as a springboard to first Grade 1 success when winning Irish Hennessy last time around; That didn’t shape like a great race at the time but form gives him a good chance in this field, while he goes well on this sort of ground; Has to have a chance.

Roberto Goldback: Runner up in the Hennessey to Quel Esprit but let down that form badly since and others make far more appeal.

Rubi Light: Improved hand over fist since Ryanair third of last year, moving smoothly with impressive win in John Durkan Chase before well beaten Lexus second, although that was against Gold Cup winner Synchronised; Only fifth in Ryanair (having looked set to go very close for much of the way) although he’s back on the ground he loves today, which makes him a huge danger.

VERDICT: RUBI LIGHT was only fifth in the Ryanair and second in the Lexus but revels in these conditions and has a big form chance in any case here. If his stamina doesn’t hold out then Quel Esprit (who might be worth putting in a Mullins big race treble) and Follow The Plan look the biggest dangers, with Captain Chris untested on this ground.