Sir Des bidding to bounce back to form

Gigginstown House Stud have assembled a five-strong team for the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Saturday.

As well as Noel Meade's odds-on favourite Road To Riches and his stablemate Wounded Warrior the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Sir Des Champs and Valseur Lido as well as Mouse Morris' admirable veteran First Lieutenant will also carry the famous maroon and white silks of Michael O'Leary's operation.

Sir Des Champs and Valseur Lido are part of a three-pronged challenge for champion trainer Willie Mullins, who bids for a 10th victory in the race.

Sir Des Champs has suffered his fair share of injury problems since winning this prize three years ago and was never a factor in the Lexus Chase last time, while Valseur Lido was last seen falling at the final fence when well beaten in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Mullins also runs On His Own who was not beaten far in the Lexus and is once again ridden by the trainer's son Patrick, who said: "Road To Riches is the horse to beat, I think that's pretty obvious, but we'll give it a go.

"Sir Des Champs was disappointing in the Lexus, but it was his second run back after a layoff and that can sometimes be a tricky run. His work at home has been good since. He's getting on a bit now, but we're hoping for a much improved performance and hopefully he can pick up some prize-money.

"Valseur Lido is in good form. He was a little disappointing in the King George, we thought he'd run better than he did that day. Three miles is his trip and we think he's up to running well in a race like this, but he has to go and prove it now after Kempton.

"I ride On His Own again. He ran a blinder for me in the Lexus and the blinkers helped him a lot.

"He tends to jump to his right, which isn't ideal around Leopardstown, but if he runs like he did in the Lexus, he should pick up some prize-money again and you never know what might happen."

Leading owner JP McManus is double-handed, with his retained rider Barry Geraghty siding with the progressive Gilgamboa over last year's winner Carlingford Lough who has not discovered his best form so far this season.

Gilgamboa's trainer Enda Bolger said: "I was very happy with his run at Christmas. He came out of the Paddy Power well and we were delighted with the way he ran and the way he jumped. That race really made a man of him, being in the middle of 16 or 17 horses for most of the race.

"Obviously it's a very hot race, but he stays well and he handles soft ground. He's in good form, but it's going to be a big step on Saturday. It's going to be a very good race and our minds are going to be made up for us on the way home."