Kempes and Silver aiming for repeat Willie Mullins is hoping Golden Silver and Kempes can repeat the dose as they bid to strike again at Punchestown early next month. Both were winners at the festival last year and return for more but look to face stiffer tasks this time around. Golden Silver landed the Boylesports.com Champion Chase in 2010 but now must overcome three horses that finished in front of him at Cheltenham, Sizing Europe, Big Zeb and Captain Cee Bee. “We would prefer winter ground for Golden Silver but he won the race last year and he seems to like Punchestown,” said Mullins. “He is a horse that has been raced hard all year but he seems to take it and enjoy it, so we certainly couldn’t stay at home. He deserves a crack at it and goes there with a big chance.” Kempes, who took the Champion Novice Chase last term, enjoyed his finest moment when claiming the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown, in February. The J P McManus-owned eight-year-old disappointed in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last time, however, and now seeks redemption in the Guinness Gold Cup. “I was very disappointed with Kempes at Cheltenham - he didn’t run at all in the Gold Cup. We have given him a break and hopefully we will have him back, ready for Punchestown again,” said the Closutton handler.
