DJAKADAM — GOLD CUP

Friday (3.30)

SECOND in the last two runnings of the Gold Cup, as a six-year-old in 2015 and on the back of an interrupted preparation — he suffered a cut when falling in his trial — 12 months ago.

Followed his defeat by Don Cossack last year with placed efforts at Aintree and Punchestown, but justified 4-5 favouritism from Outlander in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase in December on his return.

Returned to action 17 days later for the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown, but finished third, beaten two and a half lengths, behind the same rival.

MULLINS SAYS:

Last year, he got that nasty cut when he fell at Cheltenham and we just had enough time. But this year we’ve had a clear run — a better run — to the Gold Cup.

He’s more mature now. The first year he was young, the second year he had a bad prep. This year everything is going right.

At Christmas, we did what we did on the day, but reflecting afterwards we thought different tactics might have produced a different result.

But we’re happy with where we are now, and that’s the important thing. It’s been a funny year with injuries and obviously it’s more open this year.

Would he need to improve to win? Would his last two Gold Cup runs be good enough? I don’t know.

But I think he is a better horse this year. We just need the ball bouncing in our favour a little bit more and it could happen.

NEWSBOY’S VIEW:

The phrase ‘third time lucky’ rarely applies when it comes to the turf — if a horse has failed twice, why should he be good enough the next time?

But excuses can be made for Djakadam. Last year, things didn’t go to plan, and in 2015 he was just six.

Don Cossack and Coneygree, who beat him in the last two Gold Cups, are absent. Now he needs to prove he can cope with up-and-comer Native River. ODDS: 7-2