'He's an absolute machine' - Allaho storms to emphatic Punchestown Gold Cup win

Wednesday: Punchestown Gold Cup, Punchestown

Talk inevitably soon turned to the tantalising prospect of what the future might hold, but in victory Allaho produced a performance to savour by putting some of the most decorated staying chasers in the business to the sword in the Ladbrokes Gold Cup.

Without a win over three miles since beating Minella Indo in a Clonmel novice hurdle in 2019, Willie Mullins’ usually flamboyant dual Ryanair Chase hero proved he is now a more rounded operator with a 14-length demolition of the 2021 winner Clan Des Obeaux.

Paul Nicholls’ raider was the only one to really serve it up to Allaho from the get-go. If anything, despite the margin of defeat, he enhanced his reputation here.

“Christ, Allaho is an absolute machine,” said Harry Cobden after dismounting the runner-up. “I was flat out everywhere and he was doing a half speed. He is a seriously classy horse.”

Praise indeed from the vanquished rider, and he played his part in a cracking spectacle.

Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup: full result and race replay

On decent spring ground, Paul Townend set strong fractions on Allaho, but they never got away from Clan Des Obeaux and his mount again showed a tendency to guess a little at his fences and jump to his left, as he did here when winning the John Durkan Chase in December.

Same as then, though, he found a way to get the job done – and how. One by one the white flags were being raised in behind on the final circuit, Robbie Power pulling Minella Indo up after the 11th fence and Davy Russell sending out the distress signals on Galvin as well, albeit they plugged on to finish sixth, ahead of last-placed Tornado Flyer.

Allaho returns victorious after the Punchestown Gold CupCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Al Boum Photo had tried to keep tabs on the front duo, and to his credit he overcome a flat spot to finish third, while a blunder two out stopped Kemboy in his tracks before taking fifth, clear of Fakir D’Oudairies.

In one sense, the royal rumble we hoped for didn’t materialise. Instead, we got yet another emphatic haymaker from Allaho.

Credit to Townend as well, because this was a nuanced ride that saw him turn the screw on the final circuit, rather than blitz them early.

The net result was a first win in the €275,000 Grade 1 for the champion jockey at odds of 6-5 favouritism, and a sixth for Mullins, 20 years after Florida Pearl plundered the first under Barry Geraghty.

“Paul didn’t take any prisoners,” reflected Mullins, who departed with a sparkling four-timer, three of which were ridden by Townend.

“He told me he was going to jump out and he looked and me and said, ‘Sure he’ll stay, won’t he?’ And I said, ‘Of course he will!’ As it turned out, Clan Des Obeaux was the only one able to stay with him.

“Bryan Cooper, who rode Al Boum Photo, said he’d never ridden in a faster Gold Cup in his life. It was good to see. Allaho got beaten at Cheltenham as a novice over three miles [behind Champ and Minella Indo in the 2020 RSA Chase] and that day he was up in front and taking something on, but he is lot more mature now.”

Naturally, that maturity raised the question of whether Mullins might go down a different route with Allaho next term. He accepted a tilt at the King George VI Chase could prove hard to resist but, a bit like Florida Pearl, who won the Kempton showpiece in 2001, he wondered if the extra yardage of a Gold Cup at Cheltenham might be a bridge too far.

Expert jury: He destroyed them at Punchestown - but can Allaho win a Cheltenham Gold Cup?

Of course, Allaho is also in the same Cheveley Park Stud ownership as the reigning Gold Cup victor A Plus Tard.

“I don’t know,” he pondered. “That opens a lot more options for him, so you could possibly say the King George. He has a huge engine and he is going to be more mature again next year.

"But another quarter of a mile is tough. I do think he would probably be better going left-handed too, so I just don’t know. When you see what he can do over two and a half, you wonder.”

Paul Townend celebrates with the Punchestown Gold CupCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Betfair responded by cutting Allaho to 8-1 (from 20) for the Gold Cup, although at 11-4 (from 6) for the King George and 13-8 (from 7-4) for the Ryanair, the markets maybe tell a story.

Townend wasn’t too worried about what might lie ahead. “He went a bit to his left and didn’t jump as well as he can, but he is just a monster,” he beamed. “He is an older and stronger horse now and can take horses out of their comfort zone.”

Nicholls has a fine record on his cross-channel forays of late. He returns this time with a bloodied nose, but was keen to acknowledge that Clan Des Obeaux simply ran into an irresistible force.

“We put it up to Allaho but he was just a way better horse on the day – he was awesome,” Nicholls said magnanimously.

“Clan has run to form if you look at last year’s race, there were some good horses behind him, but that’s probably as good as he is. We’ve absolutely no excuses.”

Read more from Punchestown:

'He's a monster' - but there could be a few monsters in next year's Gold Cup (£)

'He’s the exact opposite of a morning glory' - Willie Mullins on The Nice Guy

Facile Vega digs down deep to maintain unbeaten record in Champion Bumper

Over 50% off Racing Post Members' Club! Members' Club is the only subscription racing fans and punters need in order to stay informed and make smarter betting decisions. Features include early access to the Racing Post digital newspaper, exclusive news and interviews, premium tips and form study tools to assist with betting. Select 'Get Ultimate Monthly' and enter code TRYME to get your first month for just £14.99* – that's better than half price!

Subscribe now

If you decide that Members' Club is not for you, then you can cancel at anytime by contacting us.

*Members' Club Ultimate Monthly first month will be charged at £14.99, renews at full price thereafter