After much conversation and debating in the past week, it looks almost certain now that Willie Mullins’ six-year-old Footpad will miss the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday, and looks set to be declared at Aintree instead.
Footpad has been in fantastic form since the switch to fences and looked in fantastic nick when last seen, making a mockery of a very good field in the Arkle Trophy at the festival two weeks ago, and remaining unbeaten since the switch to fences.
When speaking to Press Association Sport, Mullins said:
He is likely to go to Aintree now. He’ll probably be entered in two races but will most likely go for the two-mile-race.
With Punchestown only around the corner, trainer Gordon Elliott has confirmed that the highly impressive Samcro will be competing at the festival, but in which race we are not so sure just yet.
Fans of racing will be eager to see the six-year-old in action after a block-busting performance in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham. A lot of hype surrounded Samcro upon arrival at the meet two weeks ago, but he simply brushed his opponents aside with a classy performance to remain unbeaten.
When speaking to the Racing Post, Elliott said:
The plan is that he goes to Punchestown. If all is well, he will have a couple of entries, so we are not sure which one yet, we will decide closer to the time.
In other news, Shattered Love who won the JLT Novices Chase at Cheltenham seems set to be running in the Ryanair Gold Cup on Easter Sunday along with stable-mate The Storyteller, who won the Brown Advisory stable plate at the Festival.
Both superb last-time-out winners will be flying the flag for Gigginstown along with three other horses from the stable who look set to be declared.
Willie Mullins’ Getabird looks destined for a come-back at the Punchestown festival, after being a strongly fancied favourite in the Supreme. He sadly faded coming around the home bend, feeling the pinch in the difficult conditions.
As we head to the end of the jumps season, and the flat season is back up and running officially, no doubt a lot of racing fans will be looking forward to seeing John Gosden’s filly Enable back in action after a fantastic year as a three-year-old.
After winning some impressive honours last season, including the Qater Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe over in France, and the King George at Ascot, the four-year-old will be back this year and is expected to either be running in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in Ireland, or the Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom.
Whatever Gosden decides in the near future, it will fantastic to see her back in action with Frankie Dettori back on board, and hopefully we get to see more flying dismounts this season.
