Banbridge on course for Punchestown following Cheltenham disappointment

Joseph O’Brien is targeting Punchestown Festival redemption with Banbridge following his disappointing effort in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Winner of the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, the nine-year-old went to post as second-favourite for last week’s blue riband behind dual winner Galopin Des Champs, but was a spent force long before the home turn and passed the post last of seven.

O’Brien reports his charge to have returned to Ireland none the worse and hopes he can show his true colours in County Kildare, with the Punchestown Gold Cup currently viewed as a more likely target than the two-mile Champion Chase he won last season.

Reflecting on his Cheltenham performance, O’Brien said: “He didn’t jump as well as we would have liked. He still looked to be going pretty well jumping the fourth- or fifth-last and he just faded a little bit from there home.

“He’s come back well and Punchestown would be a logical target for him now having won there last year.

“We’ll probably leave options open, but we’d be thinking about sticking to three miles.”

Another O’Brien inmate seemingly bound for Punchestown is Solness, who finished an honourable fourth in the Queen Mother Champion Chase having been unable to adopt his usual front-running tactics.

O’Brien added: “I thought he ran great given the way the race panned out for him. He seems fine after the race and you’ll probably see him in Punchestown as well.”