Doumen sets sights on Cheltenham

Trainer Francois Doumen is targeting the 2004 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup after First Gold strolled away with the Punchestown Heineken Gold Cup today.

The 10-year-old, who is owned by legendary Irish punter JP McManus, made all the running to take the Grade One event under the trainer’s son, Thierry.

Only Rince Ri and Native Upmanship threw down any kind of challenge up the finishing straight, but the 7-4 favourite accelerated clear to take the race by six lengths.

The gelding had a barren spell of almost two years to the day before landing an impressive win at Aintree last time and Doumen was thrilled to see him follow up at the Punchestown Festival.

The French trainer said: “First Gold needed to prove he could perform just as well on an undulating track like this, and now he has done it we can look forward to Cheltenham and next season’s Gold Cup with a lot more optimism,

“Thierry knows the horse inside out – he has ridden him for five years – and there is no-one else I would rather have riding him.”

Doumen jnr set a sensible pace on the front-runner before moving clear with some good jumping.

However, his cause was helped when Michael Hourigan withdrew Beef Or Salmon this morning over concerns about the state of the ground.

Harbour Pilot was also a non-runner.

British raiders Hussard Collonges and Young Spartacus enjoyed mixed fortunes.

Young Spartacus finished fourth, but Hussard Collonges fell going out on to the second circuit when tracking First Gold.

Old favourite Florida Pearl faded to finish fifth of the seven starters, while Foxchapel King finished last, seemingly showing the effects of a good run in the attheraces Gold Cup at Sandown last Saturday.