Punchestown Gold Cup: Runners and riders confirmed as favourite Minella Indo is ruled OUT through injury

THE Punchestown Gold Cup is all set to be an absolute cracker of a race.

The contest comes on day two of the famed festival at the Irish track.

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Al Boum Photo can claim the big prize in Ireland[/caption]

And with just under £130,000 going to the winner, it is one of the richest races in the calendar.

Here, SunSport looks at the confirmed runners and riders – plus their odds at the time of writing.

Al Boum Photo

Odds: 13-8

Jockey: Paul Townend

Clan Des Obeaux

Odds: 5-2

Jockey:Sam Twiston-Davies

Easy Game

Odds: 20-1

Jockey: Brian Hayes

Fakir D’Oudairies

Odds: 7-1

Jockey: Mark Walsh

Kemboy

Odds: 4-1

Jockey: Danny Mullins

Melon

Odds: 10-1

Jockey: Patrick Mullins

When is the Punchestown Gold Cup?

The Punchestown Gold Cup is at 5.55pm on Wednesday, April 28.

Why isn’t Minella Indo running?

The Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was ruled out after picking up bruising on his foot on Monday.

Punchestown Gold Cup tips

This looks devilishly difficult to predict. Always classy Al Boum Photo was third to Minella Indo at Cheltenham… and could go well after that run.

However, there is always the question how much the slog up that hill to the post took out of him.

Preference might be for Sir Alex Ferguson’s horse, Clan Des Obeaux, who is trained by Paul Nicholls.

He was a late entry but could just spring a small shock at odds of 4-1.

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