Paul Nicholls opts to skip Sandown and targets Punchestown Gold Cup with Sir Alex Ferguson’s Clan Des Obeaux

THE Sir Alex Ferguson-owned Clan Des Obeaux will take on the Irish in their own back yard at Punchestown next week.

Paul Nicholls’ dual King George VI Chase hero will tackle the Punchestown Gold Cup rather than Saturday’s bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.

Clan Des Obeaux will head to Punchestown instead of SandownFergie was on hand to watch his horse win at Aintree earlier this month

The nine-year-old returned to winning ways with a smooth victory in the Betway Bowl at Aintree earlier this month.

He formed part of a Grade 1 hat-trick for legendary Manchester United boss Fergie, with Protektorat and Monmiral also successful on day one of the Grand National meeting.

And he will chase further top-level riches at the Punchestown Festival, the final big meeting of the Irish jumps season.

Nicholls had been considering running the horse under top-weight in the bet365 Gold Cup – but he has now decided against that.

He said on Twitter: “After discussions with the owners of Clan Des Obeaux we have decided that we are going to supplement him for the Punchestown Gold Cup next Wednesday and run him there and not at @Sandownpark.”

In running at Punchestown, Clan Des Obeaux is on a collision course with Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo.

The Henry De Bromhead-trained eight-year-old led home an Irish 1-2-3 at the Festival in March.

Grand National winner Rachael Blackmore is De Bromhead’s stable jockey.

But the top trainer revealed Jack Kennedy, who was in the saddle at Cheltenham, would keep the ride next week.

He said: “Jack will ride the horse if he’s available. He got a great tune out of him at Cheltenham and we’re delighted for him.

“Minella Indo has been good since Cheltenham. He’s so laid-back.

“We backed off him after the festival and he got a bit chubby so we had to start back with him again but he seems in great form. He was on the beach this morning and he loved that.

“He’s tough and seems to have taken Cheltenham well. The one concern would be he’s had quite a few runs this season.

Clan Des Obeaux will clash with Cheltenham hero Minella Indo

“We said we’d keep him busy this season and this will be his sixth run, which concerns me slightly, but he seems to be in great form.”

Minella Indo heads the betting at 6-4 with big-race sponsor Ladbrokes, with Al Boum Photo 5-2 ahead of Clan Des Obeaux at 5-1.

Kemboy, whose victory in the Punchestown Gold Cup in 2019 proved to be Ruby Walsh’s final ride, is next best at 6-1.

Ladbrokes spokesman Jon Lees said: “If the main protagonists stand their ground the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup [will be] one of the highlights of next week’s Punchestown Festival.

“Minella Indo heads our Punchestown Gold Cup betting but connections of Al Boum Photo will be out for revenge after Henry de Bromhead’s star helped shatter their Cheltenham Gold Cup hat-trick dreams last month.”

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