3.15 Punchestown
thetote.com Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1) (Class 1) (5YO plus)
Winner €84,000
Advice: 1 pt Rubi Light (9/4 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. 
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. 
Quantativeeasing: 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 Hennnessy Gold Cup winner Quel
Esprit (who you will get your money back on if you finish second to with Paddy
Power) and Follow The Plan look the biggest dangers.
No comments:
Post a Comment