Confirmed runners and riders for Sunday's Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown

Minella Indo and Delta Work will bid to bounce back to form in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (3.40) on Sunday, as the pair featured among five declarations for the day two highlight of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.

The Gordon Elliott-trained Delta Work is aiming to secure back-to-back victories in the Grade 1, but unseated at the ninth fence in the Savills Chase at the track over Christmas, one fence after Minella Indo had suffered the first fall of his career in the same race.

Rachael Blackmore once again takes the ride on Minella Indo for Henry de Bromhead, while Jack Kennedy returns to the saddle on Delta Work after missing out through injury in December.

The Willie Mullins-trained pair Kemboy and Melon – who had been fighting out the finish in the Savills Chase before being dramatically passed late on by A Plus Tard – are also declared.

Danny Mullins will ride Kemboy after Paul Townend opted to partner Melon, who has finished in the top three in seven Grade 1s without yet winning one.

Kemboy (foreground) and Melon (right) battle with A Plus Tard in the Savills ChaseCredit: Caroline Norris

Keith Donoghue takes the ride on The Storyteller, who beat Delta Work in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal in October, completing a high-class field.

In the first of four Grade 1s on the card, the unbeaten Cheveley Park Stud-owned Quilixios is a strong favourite for the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle (1.40) after French Aseel did not feature among the final field of six.

Joseph O'Brien saddles Busselton in his bid to claim a hat-trick in the race while Mullins is represented by Youmdor, Ha D'or and Saint Sam.

Festival Novices' Chase favourite Monkfish features among nine declarations for the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase (3.10) as last year’s Albert Bartlett winner aims to provide Mullins with another victory in the race won memorably by Faugheen at last year's meeting.

Monkfish, who is owned by Rich and Susannah Ricci, is unbeaten over fences and will have Paul Townend aboard as he renews hostilities with Latest Exhibition, who he has beaten twice already.

Monkfish (right) gets the better of Latest Exhibition in the Neville Hotels Novice ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Mullins also has Janidil and Asterion Forlonge, whose jumping is under intense scrutiny after falling at the first fence when taking on Envoi Allen last timeout.

Samcro's victory for Gordon Elliott in 2018 is the only time in the last eight years Mullins has not won the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle (2.10), and Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite Appreciate It bids to extend that marvellous sequence in this year's running.

The seven-year-old only found stablemate Ferny Hollow too good in the Champion Bumper last year and was an impressive nine-length Grade 1 winner over course and distance last time out.

Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup runners and riders

Delta Work Jack Kennedy
Kemboy Danny Mullins
Melon Paul Townend
Minella Indo Rachael Blackmore
The Storyteller Keith Donoghue

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