Kauto Star in top trim for Punchestown
It will be the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero’s first appearance at the big spring meeting in Ireland, though he has won on his two trips to the North of Ireland for the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal in 2008 and 2010.
“He worked great on Saturday, really well. It’s the obvious race to run him in so we’re looking forward to that,” said trainer Paul Nicholls.
The 11-year-old, third in last month’s Gold Cup on his latest start, is to head a small but select team from the Nicholls stable for the five-day feast at the Co Kildare venue early next month.
“I entered Ghizao (in the Ryanair Novice Chase) but we’re going to leave him off now and wait until next season. He’s had a good season,” added Nicholls.
“Tataniano runs this weekend (in the bet365.com Celebration Chase at Sandown). He’s fresh and well and if he runs well on Saturday he’ll go there as well (in the Boylesports.com Champion Chase).
“I’ve got one other entry, Empire Levant (in the AES Champion 4YO Hurdle), and that’s about it really.
“A lot of them have been on the go it’s the back end of the season. Kauto and Tataniano haven’t had that many runs so that’s why we are going to run those.
“The rest of them want a holiday now,” said the Ditcheat handler.
Kempes will bid to make amends for his Cheltenham flop in the Guinness Gold Cup.
Willie Mullins’ Irish Hennessy winner was quietly fancied in last month’s Gold Cup but never featured and eventually had to be pulled up by Tony McCoy.
Kempes took Grade One honours as a novice at the last Punchestown Festival and Mullins would be delighted if he could now turn the corner.
“I was very disappointed with Kempes at Cheltenham – he didn’t run at all in the Gold Cup,” said the trainer.
“We have given him a break and hopefully we will have him back, ready for Punchestown again.”
Meanwhile, Golden Silver is on course to defend his Boylesports.com Champion Chase crown at Punchestown on May 3.
Willie Mullins’ nine-year-old is the model of consistency and defeated a field including this year’s Queen Mother winner Sizing Europe in the Grade One event last year.
He has had another honourable season, winning four of his seven starts, including a defeat of Big Zeb in the Tied Cottage Chase over the course and distance in January.
However, that horse finished in front of Golden Silver when he was fourth in last month’s Queen Mother, with Sizing Europe and third-placed Captain Cee Bee are also likely to be in attendance.
“We would prefer winter ground for Golden Silver but he won the race last year and he seems to like it at Punchestown,” said Mullins.
“He is a horse that has been raced hard all year but he seems to take it and enjoy it, so we certainly couldn’t stay at home. He deserves a crack at it and goes to the meeting with a big chance.”
