3.40 IRISH GOLD CUP

(GRADE 1) 3M

Carlingford Lough: Produced a career-best effort to win this race last year but has failed to run to anything like that level since. Needs to return to his best to feature.

Fine Rightly: Has progressed nicely to a rating of 148 over fences but that leaves him short of what is likely to be required here and he will need to take a step up to compete.

First Lieutenant: Looked to be steadily regressing before finishing a fine second to Don Poli in the Lexus Chase over this course and distance last time but may have been flattered by the winner’s tendency to idle. Needs to be near his best to go close in this.

Foxrock: Finished a close second in this race last year and ran his best race since when a close third to Don Poli in the Lexus Chase last time, but the value of that form is open to question due to the winner’s tendency to idle. Needs to return to his best to make a serious impact.

Gilgamboa: A progressive chaser, he was strongly fancied for the ultra-competitive Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting and ran well to finish fourth. There was a slight question mark over how well he got the trip that day and similar questions will surround him for this contest.

On His Own: Yet to win a Grade 1, but was most notably just touched off by a short-head in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2014. Showed a bit more spark in finishing fourth in the Lexus Chase but will need to show more to compete here.

Road To Riches: A highly-progressive chaser in 2014/15 that won the Lexus Chase and finished a close third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, he made a winning return at Clonmel in November before missing an engagement in the Lexus Chase. He is reportedly primed for this and is undoubtedly the one to beat.

Sir Des Champs: Won this race in 2013 but missed almost two years of action until making a winning return at Thurles in November. Proved disappointing in the Lexus Chase and has a bit to prove now.

Valseur Lido: A two-time Grade 1-winning novice chaser, he has run well without showing much improvement in his two starts this season and has to improve to feature to improve.

Wounded Warrior: A progressive novice chase last season who made an encouraging return to action over an inadequate trip when second to Don Cossack in the Kinloch Brae at Thurles. This longer trip will suit and he shouldn’t be ruled out of calculations.

VERDICT

Road To Riches: sets the standard here and will be very difficult to beat. His stablemate Wounder Warrior appeals as being the one for the forecast.