14.22
Yielding To SoftWillowWarm Gold Cup (Grade 1)
- Prize money: £48760.33
- 2m 4f 0y
- 6 runners
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Runners: 6 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
7/4
Form: 33/141 C
Last run: 50 days
W: 11st 10lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 150
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
29th Apr 2026 Yielding 3m 0f 213y |
11st 10lb |
Won the Grade 1 novice here last year, beating stablemate Ballyburn; has experienced a torrid campaign after starting off with a second placing over 2m; remote seventh behind Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup; not a bad effort in the Grand National; making up the numbers here. |
33/1 |
|
8th 12 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
11st 1lb |
The furthest he's been is 3m1f in Grade 1 novice at Punchestown Festival (good to yielding) last April which he won in good style, showing improved form; went close over 2m in November and although he slipped up next time and met with heavy defeats twice since, he went well enough to the home turn in Irish Gold Cup on latest; whether he'll stay 4m2f is a big question but he could outrun his odds for a long way. |
28/1 |
|
7th 2 |
2nd Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 3m 0f 100y |
11st 10lb |
Grade 1 novice hurdle winner came back from a long absence last season; won three races as a novice chaser, notably a Grade 1 win at Punchestown over 3m1f; a fine second to the 11lb-receiving Only By Night over 2m at Naas on return; clipped heels and unseated rider early on in the Savills; race may have come too soon when disappointing at Tramore four days later. |
50/1 |
6/1
Form: 13-132 C
Last run: 98 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 145
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
29th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 4f 80y |
11st 12lb |
Both chase wins have come at Navan, notably 2m5f Listed handicap in December off 144 (soft-to-heavy); Cheltenham run put a line through as badly hampered early on, but recent Grade 2 Fairyhouse effort was a lacklustre one; cheekpieces now reached for and joint top-weight has a bit to prove. |
10/1 |
|
5th 5 |
6th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 3f 180y |
11st 4lb |
Won his bumper here; both chase wins have come at Navan; won a 20.5f Listed handicap chase on testing ground there off 144 in December; disappointed when third-favourite for the Plate Handicap at Cheltenham; better than that and has a good chance at the weights; can't be discounted. |
6/1 |
|
2 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 44y Class 1 |
11st 12lb |
His campaigns can be short and not always sweet but he's had some excuses since making a sparkling chase debut at Navan (2m1f, yielding) in late 2024, including when returning with some mucus in a nostril in the Galway Plate last July; right back on his game when confidently ridden to win at Navan (about 2m4f, soft to heavy) in December, despite suffering some interference, and his best days could still lie ahead. |
10/1 |
11/2
Form: -13236 C BF
Last run: 38 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 149
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
16th 8 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
11st 4lb |
Tongue tied on last two starts; Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown (3m, soft) in February was also the first time he went beyond 2m5f, when 33-1 and spending most of the race out the back but running on into fourth of 12, beaten 14l; some encouragement might be derived from that but he didn't see it out so well when confronted by 3m2f in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham. |
50/1 |
|
6th 2 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
He's performed respectably in defeat at the last two Cheltenham Festivals and won a Grade 2 at Down Royal (2m3f, good to yielding) in November; 14l fourth when upped in trip in the Irish Gold Cup (3m, soft) last month and he'll be doing very well if he improves upon that finishing position today. |
33/1 |
|
4th 4 |
2nd Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 3m 0f 100y |
11st 10lb |
Smart performer over shorter distances; ended last season with second to Spindleberry in 2m4f Grade 1 at Fairyhouse; made winning reappearance in five-runner Grade 2 event at Down Royal (2m3f, good to yielding) in November; outpointed by Iroko at Ascot last month; first time beyond 2m5f and tongue-tie tried; vulnerable. |
66/1 |
100/30
Form: 57-115 D
Last run: 78 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 153
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
His form/jumping have been in and out since his Grade 2 novice chase win at Naas last January, soundly beaten in a handicap at Leopardstown latest; however, two starts ago he followed Heart Wood home in a 2m7f Grade 3 at Tramore; could have a big say for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. |
15/2 |
|
8th 2 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 5f 107y |
11st 12lb |
Hurdle winner and won twice over fences last season, including a Grade 2 at Naas; however, his form then fell away and twice failed to complete; signs of a resurgence when second to Heart Wood at Tramore last time and can go well if building on that. |
9/1 |
|
4 |
29th Apr 2025 Yielding To Soft 3m 0f 213y |
11st 10lb |
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, slightly hampered 5th, fell 10th |
16/1 |
50/1
Form: -34424
Last run: 57 days
W: 11st 3lb
6 yo Filly
OR: 131
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 13 |
29th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 4f 80y |
10st 2lb |
Off the mark chasing on tenth attempt in 2m5f Clonmel mares' beginners last month (soft) but ultimately no match for a 10l winner nine days later in 2m5f Fairyhouse mares' handicap: front-runner should run her race but vulnerable. |
12/1 |
|
2nd 3 |
4th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 5f 45y |
10st 10lb |
Off the mark chasing on tenth attempt in 2m5f Clonmel mares' beginners last month (soft): highly-tried on occasions, notably when second to Only By Night at Exeter last year and to Spindleberry at Clonmel in November; back in handicap company and can go well. |
11/2 |
|
1st 4 |
26th Mar 2026 Soft 2m 4f 63y |
11st 7lb |
Campaigned in Graded company over last 18 months; produced some strong efforts, most notably when second to Only By Night at Exeter last year and to Spindleberry at Clonmel in November; two below-par efforts over fences since but appreciated step back up in trip with good run over hurdles last time at Punchestown; course winner over hurdles has the form to win this. |
9/4 |
9/4
Form: 125-11 C
Last run: 57 days
W: 11st 3lb
7 yo Mare
OR: 142
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 1 |
1st May 2026 Yielding 2m 4f 55y |
11st 7lb |
Won first five chase starts, including two Listed mares' chases and a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse in April last year; came unstuck upped to 3m in the Irish Gold Cup and no match for Dinoblue or Only By Night at Cheltenham latest; badly in at the weights here and looks up against it on these terms. |
11/2 |
|
4th 1 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 2m 4f 127y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Concedes weight all round and pulled up in the Irish Gold Cup last time, though was facing a very tough task against males on that first rules attempt at 3m; unbeaten over fences previously (2m4f-2m6f, various ground) including a Grade 1 win against males at Fairyhouse last April and a Listed stroll at Doncaster in December; races prominently; firmly in calculations. |
9/2 |
|
13 |
2nd Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 3m 0f 100y |
11st 3lb |
5-5 over fences, the highlight being her Grade 1 win against Firefox and other geldings at Fairyhouse (2m4f, soft to heavy) in April; reappeared with a ready Listed win at Clonmel and followed up at Doncaster; first time over 3m since a point win in 2022; not a forlorn hope. |
7/1 |
Selections
The Irish Sun:
Champ Kiely