BETDAQ VALUE IN GOLD THRILLER: Paul Nicholls’ determination to challenge the Willie Mullins Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs with King George star Bravemansgame sets up a sensational finale to the season at Punchestown. Daqman thinks BETDAQ 5.1 the challenger might be value over a shorter trip on a different track and drier ground.
TWO NAPS TODAY: Daqman hopes for reward from both champions with an Irish nap on a Mullins horse and an English nap on Nicholls in Scotland!
CHAMPIONS DUEL FOR GLORY
⭕ 5.55 Punchestown (Gold Cup) Champion trainers Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls have clashed in the last two runnings of this and honours are even in one-twos as follows:
2022 Allaho (Mullins) 6-5 fav beat Clan des Obeaux (Nicholls) 11-2
2021 Clan des Obeaux (Nicholls) 10-3 beat Al Boum Photo (Mullins) 6-4 fav
The overall scores this century are Willie Mullins 6, Paul Nicholls 3. Today’s line-up (ratings order in):
180 Galopin Des Champs (Mullins) Eight wins in a row, still standing, since taking the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham 2021 and then the Grade-1 novice hurdle at this Punchestown meeting.
Won again here in the John Durkan in December before taking the Irish Gold Cup and the Cheltenham Gold Cup back to back. This would be the gold-cup hat-trick.
172 Bravemansgame (Nicholls) Seven out of nine until opening this season with Charlie Hall and King George double but lost a duel of his own making with Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup.
Ridden to lead two out on the soft ground but headed at the last by Galopin des Champs, who ran on strongly to the line. Today is more than two furlongs shorter on drying ground.
167 Hewick ‘Shark’ Hanlon’s stayer came to prominence in winning the Sandown Gold Cup last April (3m 5f); three months later the Galway Plate and in the autumn the American Grand National.
Not fluent over the Cheltenham fences and, leading at one stage, he was headed and ridden two out when he fell heavily in the Gold Cup.
164 Envoi Allen Twelve wins in a row for Gordon Elliott, including Killiney Novice Chase here in January 2021.
Back to form later in the year with small-field wins for Henry De Bromhead but twice came up against Energumene (third both) last Spring. Beaten out of sight by Bravemansgame in the King George but slammed the even-money Shishkin in the Ryanair at Cheltenham (2m 4f+ soft).
159 Fury Road Like Envoi Allen, top-class hurdles and novice-chase form until lost his way against classy Ahoy Senor, Capodanno, Conflated and, recently at the Dublin festival and at Cheltenham, well outpointed by Galopin des Champs and Envoi Allen.
154 Fastorslow Runner-up in the big-fields Coral Cup at Cheltenham (2022) and the hurdle here last April, and struggled in chases – 2 lengths behind Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan – until stepped up in trip for the Ultima at Cheltenham in March beaten only a neck, giving 4lb, to the subsequent Grand National winner, Corach Rambler.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 5.1 Bravemansgame
NICHOLLS HAD THIS IN MIND
⭕ 2.20 Catterick The drop back to the minimum 5f should suit High Ovation, who has improved every race over six, and gets 7lb from Changeofmind.
⭕ 3.00 Perth There’s a coincidence double here with Makin’yourmindup, capable of giving the small penalty away as a Grade-2 winner. The Paul Nicholls yard won this decent prize in 2021; worth the trip; worth the nap.
⭕ 5.20 Punchestown (Novice Hurdle) This race now has the massive reputation of having launched two Gold Cup winners – Minella Indo and Galopin Des Champs – in the last three years.
Three winners yesterday had previously run at Cheltenham in March and that applies here to the four at the front of the market.
Though this is Gaelic Warrior’s first three-miler, Willie Mullins describes him as a chasing type with a serious engine, and he’s 7lb clear on the ratings.
Salvador Ziggy was the Pertemps Final runner-up giving weight to the winner and third, and Affordable Fury was second in the Albert Bartlett (Embassy Gardens raced too freely; pulled up).
DAQMAN’S BETS
2.20 Catterick (win 10)
BET 4pts win HIGH OVATION
3.00 Perth (win 10, English nap)
BET 6pts win MAKINYOURMINDUP
5.20 Punchestown (win 10 Irish nap)
BET 10pts win GAELIC WARRIOR
5.55 Punchestown (win 20)
BET 5pts win BRAVEMANSGAME
6.30 Punchestown (win 12)
BET 4pts win TULLYHILL
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