Punchestown 2024: Coko Beach has the La Touche of class in Ireland's longest race

There are few better sights in Irish jump racing than the iconic La Touche Cup at Punchestown and today’s renewal promises to be a cracker.

The 4m1f Cross Country contest is Ireland’s longest race and one steeped in history having been first run back in the mid 1800’s at the Kildare track.

With drop banks, log fences, Aintree fences, birch rolls and the affectionately named Ruby’s Double among the 30 obstacles the race is a unique test and one that requires a horse with experience over the course.

COKO BEACH (4.50) won over this course back in February and that acquaintance with the La Touche track should make him hard to beat.

He’s a classy horse with a mark of 159 and although 12st7lbs is a hefty burden to carry he’s a dour stayer and will appreciate any rain that arrives overnight.

Read More
Related Articles

Jack Kennedy banned for using whip too many times just weeks after being suspended for same offence on same horse

He beat subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Limerick Lace in the Troytown Chase before Christmas and went on to run a cracker in the Beecher at Aintree, when finishing runner-up.

Jack Kennedy needs every winner he can get in his bid to beat Paul Townend to the jockey’s title and this may be one of the more enjoyable ones he experiences this season.

Birchdale and Stumpton are two decent opponents but in truth this looks a race tailor made for Coko Beach and with a clear round he can win this famous old prize for Gordon Elliott and Michael O’Leary for the very first time.

It's a tricky Thursday for punters at Punchestown with a mixture of very short-priced favourites and wide open handicaps the order of the day.

Stayers’ Hurdle hero Teahupoo is the star attraction in the Grade 1 €300,000 Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle and his supporters will be looking to the skies as he’s a horse that really needs soft ground to be seen at his best.

That was very much the case at Cheltenham, where he galloped through the mud to give Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy a much needed Championship race victory on a week where Willie Mullins typically dominated that division.

There is rain forecast but will it be enough to give Teahupoo his optimum conditions and at likely odds on there’s value in taking him on with HOME BY THE LEE (6.00).

J.J Slevin onboard Home By The Lee celebrates winning at Leopardstown
(Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

He’s a plucky performer who ran a career best at Cheltenham behind Teahupoo, finishing five lengths back in third on ground he’d have not really liked.

He’s a horse that needs cajoling and can come on and off the bridle but he’s gutsy and honest and usually keeps finding.

The unusually sedate pace at Cheltenham didn’t help either and with a stronger pace on better ground he looks to have a life at far more attractive odds than Teahupoo.

As witnessed here earlier in the week JJ Slevin is enjoying a superb season and although Joseph O’Brien is very much concentrating on the flat these days, his jump horses deserve enormous respect.

Nico de Boinville is an eye-catching jockey booking on PIGEON HOUSE (3.40) in the opening Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle.

The four-year-old is trained by Jessica Harrington and owned by a group including Punchestown General Manager Richie Galway.

He was disappointing at Cheltenham in the Boodles’ but runs here off a 6lbs lower mark and was consistent enough before that to warrant respect in what’s a difficult race to figure out.

Willie Mullins’ army of talent here this week is nothing short of extraordinary and in the 2m Listed Handicap he has thrown some top class horses into the mix - most notably Saint Roi and Blood Destiny.

That pair are more used to keeping Grade 1 company and come here with major claims but preference is for the Gavin Cromwell-trained PATH D’OROUX (4.15) who has run some very solid races in defeat at the DRF, Cheltenham and Aintree and might get his turn here.

He’s been placed on all four outings since the turn of the year and the booking of the excellent conditional Conor Stone-Walsh takes the eye with 5lbs taken off his burden.

He’ll need things to fall right but it’ll be a surprise if he’s not in the mix once again.

Mullins runs five in the Listed Close Brothers Mares Novice Hurdle and SPINDLEBERRY (7.05) looks best equipped of the quintet to score and is the choice of stable jockey Paul Townend.

She wasn’t fancied at Fairyhouse but ran a mighty race to finish runner-up to her stablemate Jade De Grugy and that very much form that puts her at the top of the queue here.

GAELIC WARRIOR (5.25) was brilliant in the Arkle at Cheltenham and looks likely to add the Grade 1 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase to his cv.

He did the job in terrific style and although he’s definitely a better horse going left-handed he did account for chief rival and stablemate Il Etait Temps comfortably at right-handed Limerick over Christmas in a race that’ll be remembered for the bust-up between cousins Patrick and Danny Mullins.

The €50,000 Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle will be a serious test of stamina over 3m and may see a repeat success for UK raider KILBEG KING (6.35).

The Anthony Honeyball-trained eight-year-old won this 12 months ago off an 8lbs higher mark but he’s improved since then and has had a decent season over fences - running well in a Premier Handicap at Aintree last month on his latest start.

This is his first run over timber since Punchestown last year and he should be in the mix once again for jockey Sam Twiston-Davies.

The closing bumper seems a long way away but Martin Brassil’s GOLDINTHEMOUNTAINS (7.40) has plenty going for him judged on his winning effort at Leopardstown over Christmas.

He has been campaigned patiently by Brassil and was third on his debut at last year’s Festival before beating Mywayofthinkin and Cantico in December.

His wily handler has spoken positively about him and it’s interesting to see he resisted the temptation of the other big spring festivals and kept his son of Almanzor for this, the local festival for his owner Sean Mulryan.

It’s a strong race, won by a certain Ballyburn in 2023, with plenty of winners involved and should certainly be an informative contest for the future.

Sign up to our horse racing newsletter here to get news direct to your inbox.