Geraghty hoping that Lough is on his side after hard choice

THE Irish Gold Cup is the pick of four Grade Ones on a fine day of racing at Leopardstown today and Barry Geraghty is hoping he has picked the right horse for the big one.

Carlingford Lough bids to join a select club in winning the Stan James-sponsored race for the third year in succession.

Jodami won the race formerly known as the Hennessy Gold Cup three times between 1993 and 1995, with only the great Florida Pearl, who won four renewals, ranking any better in the history of the race.

AP McCoy steered the John Kiely-trained 11year-old to victory two years ago – just 24 hours after announcing his retirement at Newbury – while Mark Walsh was on board 12 months ago.

Geraghty (pictured) takes the reins this year and is expecting a bold show following his mount’s promising comeback run over hurdles behind Jezki at Navan three weeks ago.

But the JP McManus

silks are also carried by the Jonjo O’Neill-trained pair of Minella Rocco and More Of That, two other horses Geraghty knows well.

And the jockey said in his At The Races blog: ‘It was difficult, choosing between Carlingford Lough and Minella Rocco, and even More Of That. I went for the proven ability of Carlingford Lough, but I could easily have got it wrong.

‘Carlingford Lough is top class, and he put up huge performances to win this race in 2015 and again last year. He ran a nice race on his debut this season and that should have brought him forward for this.’

Gordon Elliott runs Don Poli and Empire of Dirt, while Zabana, Sizing John and Road To Riches complete the eight-runner field.

Willie Mullins has no runner but should have the favourite in the other three Grade Ones, with the likes of hurdlers Bapaume and Saturnas and novice chaser Bellshill.