Nicholls targets Punchestown Gold Cup with Cheltenham third Neptune Collonges

John Hales' seven-year-old won the three mile and one furlong contest, run this year on Wednesday, April 23, by an impressive three and a half lengths in 2007 and he is on course to try and land the 275,000 euros prize once again.

"Neptune Collonges definitely goes to Punchestown," said Nicholls. "He's in fine form at home and, since Cheltenham, the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup has been his target. He ran a great race in the Gold Cup and I was very, very pleased with him."

His opposition could include the locally-trained Kicking King, winner of both the totesport Cheltenham Gold and Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup in 2005.

Kicking King came through a workout this morning, which delighted his trainer Tom Taaffe. "Kicking King worked this morning, looks great and is very well at the moment," said Taaffe. "And he is on course for the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup. Everything we've entered is on course for Punchestown and I'd envisage having a larger team than normal at the Festival this year."

The Michael Hourigan-trained Mossbank, who finished second to Our Vic in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, is likely to be joined in the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup by stablemates Hi Cloy and the 10-time Grade 1 winner Beef Or Salmon, who is set to retire after the race.

Beef Or Salmon, Ireland's most popular horse of recent years, is sure to get a great reception after the race which he won in 2004.

"Hopefully, all three - Beef Or Salmon, Mossbank and Hi Cloy - will run in the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup," said Hourigan. "Ground and weather permitting, Beef Or Salmon will go there and retire. We thought that it would be a good place to retire him and wouldn't it be mighty if he went out on a high note.

"He needs to retire at a place where he'll be recognised and he's won that race before. We spoke about retiring him after the Irish Grand National - it was a big ask under top-weight but I never saw him jump so well.

"I rang the owners and told them to discuss it between themselves about going to Punchestown and they were keen for him to go out there. We won't risk him on quick ground but we'd be hoping that it will come up right for him.

"The other two are on target. We'll see how Hi Cloy is in the next week after Aintree. He ran a cracker there, jumped from fence to fence - you'd nearly love to have been riding him! He never touched a twig.

"Mossbank is fine. He ran well at Cheltenham and the form is standing up with Our Vic winning at Aintree. The trip just might not have been far enough for him in the Ryanair Chase."

Meanwhile North Yorkshire trainer Ferdy Murphy plans a step up in class for New Alco, who finished runner-up in the William Hill Trophy Chase at Cheltenham last month.

"I think New Alco was probably a little bit unlucky to finish second in the William Hill Chase at Cheltenham and he will run in the Guinness Gold Cup on the Wednesday of the Punchestown Festival," said Murphy.

The John Smith's Grand National third, fourth, fifth and sixth, Snowy Morning, Slim Pickings, Bewleys Berry and Cloudy Lane, are among the other entries.