5.00 WillowWarm Gold Cup (Grade 1) 2m 4f

Fleur In The Park: Ready Wexford beginners’ chase winner in October was only just touched off in a Punchestown Grade 3 the following month. Failed to land a telling blow in Thurles Grade 3 since on return from break, and needs a big step forward. Yard in flying form.

Jacob’s Ladder: Would be chasing a fifth chase win on the bounce but for being run down in the closing stages by Kappa Jy Pyke in a Punchestown Grade 3 three starts ago (has three and a half lengths to find from that clash). Has shown his best form over shorter than this, though is entitled to a crack at this type of company.

Jimmy Du Seuil: Last season’s Coral Cup winner made a flying start to life over fences at this venue in November, beating The Big Westerner in a beginners’ chase, but wheels have come off badly in two starts since. Disappointed at Limerick over Christmas and taking a heavy fall when beaten at the DRF. Obvious player if back on song, but comes with risks attached.

Kappa Jy Pyke: Caused a bit of an upset when beating stablemate Salvator Mundi at Thurles on his chasing bow in November and proved there was nothing fortunate about that win when following up with a Grade 3 success at Punchestown in January. Interestingly was not the choice of Paul Townend on either occasion - and again here. Now comes here a fresh horse operating over what looks like his optimum trip.

Predators Gold: Winner of the valuable Goffs Defender Bumper on his Punchestown Festival debut in 2023, and was placed three times in Grade 1 novice hurdles the following season. Missed all of last term but defied a 582-day layoff to beat Slade Steel in a Navan beginners’ chase in December. It’s possible the bounce factor could have come into play late on when gunned down in the closing stages of Punchestown Grade 3 won by Kappa Jy Pyke on his last start in January - a race where he had been a 4/6 favourite under Paul Townend. Not ideal that he missed the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham due to lameness but is a high-class sort when on his ‘A’ game.

Pure Steel: Represents the same connections as the 2024 winner of this race, Spillane’s Tower. Bounced back from a January blip at Punchestown to win well at the same venue a month later. Has work to do from his official rating of 145, but gives the impression we mightn’t have reached the bottom of him yet.

Sixmilebridge: Smart hurdler has taken his form to new heights over fences in Britain this season. Was well placed to win Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase when last seen in February, though main rival Kitzbuhel departed the race early. Missed the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase at Cheltenham due to drying ground but conditions look fine here. Probably needs another step up, even if rock-solid so far as a chaser.

Western Fold: Vastly experienced novice chaser for a test like this as a Galway Plate winner and already successful against senior chasers. After a promising DRF comeback second, he was a shade disappointing when down the field in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham. However, perhaps that longer trip found him out in terms of stamina. Wouldn’t be a shock if he showed much more of his old self at this mid-range distance.

Kala Conti: Made an excellent start to her season with back-to-back wins at Cork, including a wide-margin win over a below-par Kargese in Grade 2 company,. Then earned Grade 1 blacktype when beaten five lengths in second by Sixmilebridge at Sandown last time. More will be required now, but she is consistent and probably is overpriced from a place perspective, given her best form.

Conclusion: Willie Mullins has won six of the last seven runnings of this race, though it’s notable that only one of those winners was his shortest-priced representative in the line-up. It is often that type of race. All week long, Kappa Jy Pyke has been around the 5/2 mark, and Predators Gold was available at 7/1, but the latter now has the assistance of Paul Townend - a telling booking that will shake up the market. He has proven himself at a higher level than most of these over hurdles and arrives here with the potential to improve on his third run of the season. Kappa Jy Pyke and Sixmilebridge are dependable and shouldn’t be far away in an open race.