PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL PREVIEWS:TODAY'S €225,000 Guinness Gold Cup has more angles than a geometry textbook, but peeling away the various layers of sentiment, admiration and curiosity could end up steering you towards Tranquil Sea as a winner.
As a Grade One winner over hurdles here two years ago, Edward O’Grady’s horse has an enviable Punchestown pedigree. He tackles three miles for the first time in an attempt to confirm his trainer’s suspicion that a Cheltenham Gold Cup campaign is a runner next season.
However, in terms of headline grabbers, Tranquil Sea is well down the pecking order today.
That’s hardly surprising considering a three-strong cross-sea raiding party includes a runner owned by the Queen of England, Barbers Shop, as well as one of the genuine superstar names of National Hunt racing, Denman, whose fellow Gold Cup hero, War Of Attrition, also just happens to be making the final start of his career.
War Of Attrition, who added this race to his memorable Cheltenham triumph four years ago, will be a huge sentimental favourite, although trainer Mouse Morris had understandably limited ambitions yesterday.
“I’m just hoping he runs a nice respectable race and isn’t disgraced,” he said. “As long as he comes back safe and sound, that’s the main thing.”
The 2008 Gold Cup winner Denman bids to maintain trainer Paul Nicholls’ good record in the festival centrepiece, and will again be ridden by Tony McCoy, who rode him into second behind Imperial Commander last month.
That was a second successive runner-up placing in the blue riband for Denman, whose best form has come on softer ground than he is likely to get now, and on left-handed tracks.
Considering he has run only four times right-handed, and won three of them, the direction might not be a major impediment to Denman’s chances, but, at his likely SP, it is a niggling worry that could be done without.
Nevertheless, on official figures Denman is a stand-out, even against proven Grade One winners such as Joncol, Cooldine and Notre Pere, all of whom would be happier on a softer surface. And the trip is a concern for J’y Vole and Barbers Shop, who looks one of those expensive horses that flatter to deceive sometimes.
Joncol’s trainer, Paul Nolan, will walk the track today before giving his giant Hennessy winner the green light, but he caught the popular mood yesterday when he said: “If the same Denman who ran at Cheltenham shows up then he’s got 18-20lb in hand and the rest of us are playing for second.”
It is not unknown, though, for Denman to throw in a comparatively under-whelming performance, and if he does again then there could be value to be had by having Tranquil Sea on your side.
He didn’t fire at the Cheltenham Festival, but he has a history of bouncing back at this one.
