Cheltenham Gold Cup winners at Punchestown!

easily the best racing today comes from the Irish N.H. meeting at Punchestown, where two Cheltenham Gold Cup winners clash in the Grade 3 chase over 2 3/4 miles at 17.45 CET. 2005 winner Kicking King (Tom Taaffe/ Barry Geraghty) has never really run up to that form since and has had his fair share of problems; he fell last time out and preference must be for 2006 winner War of Attrition (Mouse Morris/ Davy Russell), who has won this race twice before, but is coming off a long break. There are only4 runners, but Watson Lake (Noel Meade/ Paul Carberry) will keep the principals honest despite giving them both weight. The very consistent ex-German Kalderon (Tom Hogan/ David Casey) has a good chance in the Grade Three novice chase at 17.15, but mjust concede weight to last season´s smart novice hurdler (third at Cheltenham!) Trafford Lad (Eamonn Sheehy/ Ruby Walsh), who is making his debut over fences. Also on the Punchestown card are two listed hurdle races and Davy Russell can posibly win them both; he partners Made in Taipan for Tom Mullins at 16.15 and Oscar Rebel for Willie Burke in the mares´ race half an hour later. There are, unusually for Ireland, small fields in most of the Punchestown races, but they are well worth watching. There is also jumps racing in the U.K. today at Ludlow, where Tony McCoy as usual looks te man to follow. He has several fancied rides, notably Darabatsa for Tor Sturgis in the mares´ novice hurdle at 15.20, De Soto for Jonjo O´Neill in the handicap chase an hour later, Misterinbetween for Gordon Elliott (for whom he ride a double yesterday) at 16.50, and another Irish-trained runner, Patrick Kelly´s King Ali in the beginners chase at 17.50.

Betting forecast:
1.Race: Baron De`L - An Cathaoir Mor - Bob Lingo
2.Race: Made In Taipan - Coolcashin - Raise Your Heart
3.Race: Oscar Rebel - Vale Of Avocia - Give It Time
4.Race: Trafford Lad - Kalderon - Fantoche
5.Race: Kicking King - War Of Attrition - Watson Lake
6.Race: Ardalan - Wheels Up - Drumconvis
7.Race: Chip Tea - Instant Cherry - Rock Gossip