6/4 Kemboy has plenty to prove for Ruby

Ruby Walsh suggests his mount Kemboy has a job on his hands to deny stablemate Al Boum Photo a Gold Cup double at Punchestown (18:05) on Wednesday evening.

The latter gave Willie Mullins his first taste of glory in the Cheltenham version in March, coming home powerfully under Paul Townend to win well, making it two-from-two this season as he did.

Walsh was on Bellshill in the Cotswolds, with the Irish Gold Cup winner being let down by his jumping before he was pulled up.

Kemboy meanwhile was a very early casualty, unseating David Mullins after the first fence.

Winner of the Grade One Savills Chase around Leopardstown at Christmas, Kemboy has since run out a hugely impressive winner of the Aintree Bowl in the hands of Walsh.

He is 6/4 with Betfred to win the Punchestown Gold Cup this evening but, despite that Kemboy success on Merseyside, Walsh suggests that Al Boum Photo remains the one to beat.

“Our trio are coming into this in very good form. Al Boum Photo was brilliant in winning the Gold Cup and that has to be the best form line in the race. Al Boum Photo ran to a rating of 171 in Tramore and he was at 175 for the Gold Cup,” Walsh said in his blog.

“I believe that Gold Cup was stronger than either race that Kemboy won [this season], so Al Boum Photo has to be the one to beat.

“Hopefully, we can give him a good run for it though. Meanwhile, Bellshill won the Irish Gold Cup at the Leopardstown Racing Festival, but never travelled at Cheltenham.”

The Cheltenham Gold Cup winner can be backed at 7/4 as he and Townend seek redemption at Punchestown 12 months on from their infamous last-fence run out.

Making up the eight-runner field are Monalee, Definitly Red, Snow Falcon, Sub Lieutenant and The Storyteller.

Odds subject to change