The Punchestown Festival gets underway later this month, and already, attention has turned to who will be entered into the Gold Cup. The Grade 1 race takes place on the second day of the five-day meeting, and the field often features names that have run in the Cheltenham namesake.
Although it’s rare that the same horse wins both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Punchestown race in the same year – the last horse to do was Sizing John in 2017 – horse racing betting sides will have the latest odds, so you can make an informed decision. Read on, as we take a look at the favourites for the 2022 renewal.
Allaho
Having won the Ryanair Chase for the second year running at March’s Cheltenham Festival, Allaho will arrive in Punchestown well-rested after those exploits. The eight-year-old has form at the Irish racecourse, having won the Punchestown Chase in December 2021, and has won his three races this season. While Allaho lost out to stablemate (and favourite) Chacun Pour Soi at last year’s Punchestown Festival in the Champion Chase, Mullins has entered him into both the Champion Chase and Gold Cup this year.
Minella Indo
The distance, perhaps, suits Minella Indo more than the leading favourite – despite his recent form (3P22). Henry de Bromhead’s nine-year-old may have been unable to retain his Cheltenham glory – with A Plus Tard getting one over his stablemate – but Minella Indo has placed in his last two races. It’s worth noting that Minella Indo was forced to miss last year’s Punchestown Festival, after suffering a bruised foot following his run-out at Cheltenham, and victory in the Gold Cup will certainly mark redemption.
Clan Des Obeaux
Last year’s winner will look to defend his champion status, and Clan Des Obeaux arrives to Punchestown, fresh from his one-length victory over Conflated in the Aintree Bowl at the Grand National Festival. Wearing first-time blinkers in that race earlier this month, trainer Paul Nicholls fancies his chances, pre-empting that the Gold Cup will be “a hell of a race”. Clan Des Obeaux has followed a similar path to the one he took en route to Punchestown last year – bypassing Cheltenham – and has placed in all of his races so far this season. The 10-year-old will be one to watch, for sure.
Galvin
While Galvin perhaps disappointed at the Cheltenham Gold Cup – finishing fourth, some 17-and-a-half lengths behind the winner, A Plus Tard – the Gordon Elliott-trained eight-year-old had a decent start to the season. Winning a Grade 3 at Punchestown already this term, he was then narrowly beaten in the Champion Chase at Down Royal, before returning to winning ways – albeit by a short head – in the Savills Chase. Galvin’s won over this distance before, and what better way to bounce back than with victory in another Grade 1? Elliott will also be returning to Punchestown – having missed last year’s renewal through suspension – and there’s no doubt he’ll look to get his fill of winners, as crowds return for the first time since 2019.
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The Punchestown Festival takes place between 26-30th April.
All favourites are correct at the time of writing.
