Galopin Des Champs is in pole position but a significant danger lurks

Despite the modest size of the field, the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup presents a puzzle. You might think it should be easy enough to solve; only four runners, three of whom clashed as recently as mid-March, and an 'odd-man-out' with direct form links to the other three runners forged within the last year.

However, that bare outline does not do justice to the potential complexities of a plot with the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs at its centre. Almost seven weeks ago, the nine-year-old was foiled in his bid to become the first three-time Gold Cup winner since Best Mate. He finished an honourable second to Inothewayurhinkin and was comfortably clear of the third.

The margins imply he should have little difficulty confirming form with Henry de Bromhead's fourth-placed Monty's Star and no trouble at all in coping with the Joseph O'Brien-trained Banbridge who trailed in last of seven finishers. If things were to work out neatly, Galopin Des Champs has merely to deal with Spillane's Tower, last seen when soundly beaten into fifth behind Banbridge in the King George.