Who is popular today?

Clan Des Obeaux put up a brilliant performance to strike for Britain in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup following Ireland’s domination at Cheltenham.
The decision by Paul Nicholls to bypass that meeting with Clan Des Obeaux – who is co-owned by Alex Ferguson – has paid a handsome dividend, with victory in the Betway Bowl at Aintree and again at Punchestown.
Al Boum Photo (6-4 favourite) did his best to keep the prize on home soil, but Willie Mullins’s dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was no match for Clan Des Obeaux.
The 100-30 shot was given a positive ride by Sam Twiston-Davies from the start of the extended three-mile showpiece.
Melon led in the early stages with Clan Des Obeaux and Kemboy on his heels, but he was struggling when pulled up some way out.
Kemboy also gave way as Clan Des Obeaux increased the tempo, leaving Al Boum Photo and Fakir D’oudairies to try to haul back the leader.
Al Boum Photo put in a game effort but dual King George hero Clan Des Obeaux maintained the gallop to cross the line a length and a half to the good, to give Nicholls a third win in the race after Neptune Collonges in 2007 and 2008.
Fakir D’oudairies was 17 lengths away in third, with Kemboy, the winner in 2019, last of the four finishers.

Galopin Des Champs ridden by Paul Townend goes on to win the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire


Galopin Des Champs blew his rivals away with an impressive display to win the Grade One Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle.
The ex-French five-year-old was having just his fifth start since joining the formidable Mullins team and looks an exciting prospect.
Galopin Des Champs was one of the three Cheltenham Festival winners in the nine-runner field, having taken the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle last month, and he had no trouble proving his worth at the top level.
Stattler, stablemate of the winner, made the running but Galopin Des Champs was always travelling easily for Paul Townend and went on after jumping the second-last flight.
The 13-8 favourite stormed clear to score by 12 lengths. Gentlemansgame took second place by a length and a half from Stattler.
Townend said: “It was straightforward. He settled lovely, but you have to for a three-mile race like that.
“I was in front a hell of a lot earlier than I anticipated, I won’t say too soon because he’s won, though definitely a lot sooner than I thought I would be.”
Mullins said: “He’s very slick over his hurdles. I said to Paul ‘what did you think?’ and he said he could be a Stayers’ Hurdle candidate. I like to go chasing with them quickly. We’ll see.”