3.40 Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (Grade 1) 3m
Delta Work: Won this race last year having previously landed the Savills Chase and he was also successful in a Grade 1 here as a novice chaser so he is something of a course-and-distance specialist.
His jumping can catch him out as he showed when exiting early on behind A Plus Tard in December, but with a clear round he must have every chance at a venue that suits him so well.
Kemboy: Ran a fine 1½l second in this race last year and came right back to his best with a tremendous display in December in the Savills Chase over this course and distance where he was only collared in the dying strides by A Plus Tard.
On his day he is one of the best Grade 1-class staying chasers around and that last run looks to give him outstanding claims.
Melon: Doesn’t win very often but time after time he has held his own in top company all the way from 2m to this trip and he turned in a tremendous effort here at Christmas to finish third to Kemboy after the pair went toe-to-toe up front from some way out.
On that showing he has a real future at this trip and he warrants every consideration.
Minella Indo: Looked to be mugged late on in last season’s RSA, a run which marked him out as a likely Gold Cup contender, and he started out this season in great style with smooth wins at Wexford and Navan.
An early fall in the Savills Chase last time was a rare blip from this former Cheltenham winner and with a clear round he is likely to take all the beating.
The Storyteller: Comes here in the form of his life after a terrific season which has already yielded a Grade 1 chase win at Down Royal and a fine 6l second to Flooring Porter in a 3m Grade 1 over hurdles here at Christmas.
In the past, he has struggled at this level and even though he doesn’t have much to find on official figures he has a bit to do against some of these.
Verdict
Minella Indo looks capable of developing into one of the best staying chasers around and is easily forgiven a rare blip last time. If he runs his race he will take some beating and he gets the vote ahead of the Leopardstown specialist Delta Work who also needs to bounce back from a relatively early Savills Chase exit.