The long road that could see the remarkable Sackville wind up as Ireland's second Cheltenham Gold Cup winner in 16 years begins at Punchestown today.

Sackville has just three opponents, including the top hurdler and Galway Plate hero Grimes, but will be racing over an inadequate two-mile trip in the Dunstown Wood Chase.

Those who marvelled last season at the then novice's winning streak will not be dissuaded from the view that Sackville's class will see him through but trainer Frances Crowley is just hoping for a trouble-free first step of the campaign. "He is in great form but might take a few races to get fully on form. He should win, in theory, but we are not bothered about whether he wins. We just hope he gets round safely," Crowley said yesterday.

Sackville is as low as 10 to 1 second favourite for the Gold Cup with Paddy Power behind the French-based First Gold at 5 to 1.

Conor O'Dwyer rode the last Irish Gold Cup winner (Imperial Call in 1996) and he rides Grimes today. However, it is ground and not trip that worries the rider.

"The trip is not ideal for Sackville but the ground (yielding to soft) is not ideal for my horse," he admitted yesterday, and the conditions could now be testing enough to negate the worry about the distance for Sackville.

The rest of the card largely features a more mundane series of maiden races although the presence of Lawz in the concluding conditions hurdle will be enough for some to consider a bet.

The Spinning World colt Ursa Minor represents Ballydoyle in the opener and should have improved enough from an encouraging debut to win while Columba's second to Adamant Approach reads good enough for the first division of the maiden hurdle.

Tango Pasion, with the ground very much on the soft side must be considered again for the mile and a half handicap. Jim Gorman's string are coming back to form and Desperado could prove a value solution to the Nursery.