A COUPLE of Gold Cup winners do battle in the featured Grade Three chase at Punchestown this afternoon and Conflated looks hard to oppose in the two-mile-seven event.
Gordon Elliott's charge finished last year on a low note, when pulled up at Aintree, with the trainer reporting that he ran flat on that occasion.
The Yeats gelding has generally been a very consistent performer and it looks fair to forgive him that run after a long season.
He has previously run a cracker to finish third in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, a race that famously can take a lot out of a horse.
Prior to that run at Prestbury Park the nine-year-old had claimed the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, his second Grade One success over fences as he had also landed the 2022 Irish Gold Cup.
He just may have a bit more juice in the tank at this stage of his career compared to the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Indo.
The 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner has been a bit hit and miss since his big day and his sole win since came down in Tramore back in January of this year.
He was pulled up back at Cheltenham in March and there remain question marks about him against top-level company.
Delta Work is another big name in the mix in the race but this looks likely to be a prep before a cross-country/National campaign again.
Conflated looks the safest option in the race but his price may reflect that as well.
In the preceding Grade Three novice chase, Hercule Du Seuil also looks hard to oppose, coming into the race off the back of four straight wins over fences.
He has been impressive at this level on his last couple of outings and it would be a shock if he couldn't strike again against this field.
All eyes will be on A Dream To Share in the opening maiden hurdle as the brilliant bumper performer makes his jumping debut.
The Muhaarar gelding had a perfect five-race record on the level with big wins at Cheltenham and Punchestown marking him out as a bit special.
This is a different challenge now but he is sure to be well schooled and it would be seriously disappointing if he couldn't make a winning start.
With some short ones on the card the two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle may be a better race for punters.
One that catches the eye is the James Fahey-trained Dancing Jeremy, who looks capable of landing a race of this standard off his current mark.
The grey should appreciate dropping back in distance now, having recorded his two career wins at this trip.
He was an early faller over fences last time but travelled really well turning for home over timber at Limerick previously before just failing to see out the three-mile trip.
GARY CARSON'S PUNCHESTOWN SELECTIONS
(next best in brackets)
1.50 A Dream To Share (Fascile Mode)
2.25 Dame Rapide (First Dare)
3.00 Dancing Jeremy (nap) (Tom McGreevy)
3.35 Hercule Du Seuil (Lucid Dreams)
4.10 Conflated (dbl) (Minella Indo)
4.45 He Fitz In (Likable Chancer)
5.20 My Great Mate (Fleur in The Park)
