Punchestown festival - day two

The Punchestown festival continues today, when the main event is the Grade One Guinness Gold Cup, a steeplechase over 3 miles 1 furlong at 17.15 CET. This has attracted a strong field of 9 runners, headed by Cheltenham Gold Cup third Neptune Collonges (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh), who clearly has a great chance of repeating his 2007 victory here. Main danger could be Kicking King, who won this -and the Cheltenham Gold Cup - in 2005, but has been very lightly raced since owing to a series of problems. However his trainer Tom Taaffe reports him to be back in top form now, in which case he could play a leading role with Barry Geraghty in the saddle. Willie Mullins´ Snowy Morning (David Casey) had a hard race when third in the Grand National 18 days ago, and Michael Hourigan´s 3 runners must be respected. The best of them on current form is Mossbank (Davy Russell), but old Beef or Salmon (Timmy Murphy), who is running his last race before his well-deserve retirement, would be the most popular winner. The novice hurdle over 3 miles at 16.40 also has a good field, and Nicky Henderson´s Galient, unbeaten so far over hurdles, is obviously one to watch with Tony McCoy aboard, but this could be another winner for Ruby Walsh, who partners Willie Mullins´ much improved Shakervilz. Henderson and McCoy can also go close with easy Aintree winner Oedipe in the valuable 2 1/2 mile handicap chase at 17.50, while Silverhand (Paul Carberry) can continue Noel Meade´s good run in the 4yo hurdle at 16.05