Willie Mullins is responsible for eight of the 13 runners declared for tomorrow's Irish Gold Cup (3.30 Leopardstown); the going on the chase track is is currently described as soft to heavy - the card is subject to an inspection tomorrow morning, with heavy rain forecast overnight.
Favourite Galopin Des Champs has won the past three renewals, going on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2023 and 2024 before being beaten by Iknowthewayurthinkin at Prestbury Park last year.
His first defeat over fences at this track came in the Savills Chase just after Christmas when he finished third behind Affordale Fury - managed to prevail despite jumping persistently to his right - and I Am Maximus.
The consensus opinion is that a lack of fitness / ring rustiness were behind that defeat; we'll know whether age was also a contributing factor in due course.
Having the pick of the J.P. McManus owned runners, Mark Walsh has opted for Fact To File ahead of I Am Maximus and Iknowthewayurthinkin.
Fact to File finished third behind Galopin Des Champs and Grangeclare West in last year's renewal, with Iknowthewayurthinkin fourth and I Am Maximus eighth.
The likelihood is I Am Maximus has the Aintree Grand National as his target, having won the 2024 renewal by seven and a half lengths and then finishing second behind stablemate Nick Rockett last year (Grangeclare West third).
That said, he ran a fine race in the Savills at odds of 50/1, hampered at the final fence and doing his best work on the run to the line.
Iknowthewayurthinkin has shown no worthwhile form since winning last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup six lengths; his jumping in the Savills looked a cause for concern.
Gavin Cromwell's yard emerged from a protracted barren spell when the appropriately named Now Is The Hour pipped Better Times Ahead in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park eight days ago.
2024 Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior proved he was effective over further when beating Grey Dawning at Aintree in April the following year over three miles one furlong.
Down in trip he pipped Fact To File a neck in the John Durkan in November and went mighty close in the King George at Kempton, beaten a nose and a nose by The Jukebox Man and Banbridge. He has yet to win a chase at this track.
Both Spindleberry and Firefox race beyond two miles five for the first time - although, back in 2022, the mare Spindleberry won a three mile point at Dromahane. Better judges than me have highlighted her chance and she has been supported in the market throughout the day.
Grangeclare West, Monty's Star, Lecky Watson and Stellar Story finished fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth respectively in the Savills, while Champ Kiely clipped heels and slipped up after the fourth flight.
Grangeclare West looks to offers each-way potential; Lecky Watson and Stellar Story ran well for a long way before fading. The Henry De Bromhead yard (Monty's Star) is currently enduring a quiet spell.
With a number of layers paying four places, I looked at I Am Maximus, Grangeclare West and Lecky Watson for an each-way wager; the price about I Am Maximus has contracted.
Racing on the inside, Lecky Watson was in with a shout jumping the last in the Savills but could only stay on at the one pace, so Grangeclare West gets the nod.
Grangeclare West is the each-way suggestion, 20/1 generally at the time of writing but still 25/1 with bet365 who pay four places.
In the event the course fails its early morning inspection, the Racing Post is reporting this evening that the card will be moved to Monday.
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