2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo bounced back to form to land the pinnacle race of the jumps season at the Cheltenham festival and his handler now looks to be targeting at the Punchestown version of the race.
The eight year old has raced 13 times during his short career and has only finished outside the top three in his point to point and last start when falling.
Two seasons ago on his final two starts over hurdles he really came to life landing the Grade One Albert Bartlett at the festival at a huge price of 50/1 and then backed that up at the Punchestown festival when landing another classy Grade One.
He went novice chasing last season and after running well on debut behind star mare Laurina, he landed a Beginners Chase at Navan before narrowly being beaten in the RSA Novices' Chase at the festival, With Champ pipping him on the line.
Coming out of novice company this term he started his season off at Wexford at the back end of October in the Grade Three Memorial Chase where he jumped the field into submission, going on to win the event by 25 lengths.
Having again put up another superb performance at Navan when beating Brahma Bull by close to eight lengths his handler sent him to Leopardstown at Christmas in the Grade One Savills Chase.
⭐️ Minella Indo comes of age
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 19, 2021
A @HenrydeBromhead 1-2 as Minella Indo sees off stable companion A Plus Tard in the 2021 WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup for @jackkennedy15 #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/3eMx5vOWKm
Going off as favourite, many were looking for the gelding to put up a big run, but were left wanting more after falling for the first time in his career with a circuit to go.
He then went back to Leopardstown and returned to some sort of form by finishing his race, but overall he was outclassed in the Irish Gold Cup behind Kemboy finishing a well beaten fourth.
He made a big resurgence giving a career best when landing the Gold Cup in March and having had plenty of time to off the track before the Punchestown Gold Cup, he could be primed to land the double.
(Credit ATR) De Bromhead said: “It (Gold Cup) was a hard race, as you would expect, and A Plus Tard pushed him all the way, but he seems to be good since.
“Like all the horses that ran in Cheltenham, we will give him as much time as he needs and just see how he is before getting going again, but we would hopefully be returning to Punchestown with him.
“He won the Grade One three-mile novice hurdle at the Festival two years ago, following up from the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, so he does like it around Punchestown.
“We will see how he is and discuss it with the Maloneys (owners), but there is a good chance (he’ll run) at this stage.”