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14:25 Punchestown

Sunday 24 November 2024

All11:3512:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:32

John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 5m 3.9s

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Selected odds by:

Fact To File²⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: M P Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 162| D

7/2

Looked a top-class chaser in the making when seeing off Monty's Star by 3¾ lengths in the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival in March. It's going to be fascinating to see how he gets on against established stars Fastorslow and Galopin des Champs.

Form: 22/2111-

Fastorslow^t²⁰⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: M Brassil| OR: 171| CD

6/4

Saw off Galopin des Champs to win a second successive Punchstown Gold Cup in May and also had the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner behind him when landing this race on last year's reappearance. Leading claims.

Form: 21/12U1-

Galopin Des Champs²⁰⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 179| BF| CD

16/5

Outstanding staying chaser who recorded his ninth Grade 1 success when winning his second Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. However, Fastorslow was too strong for him in the Punchestown Gold Cup later in the spring and also had too much for him in this race last year.

Form: 2/31112-

Grangeclare West³³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 159| CD

12/1

Rapidly developed into smart chaser at this time last year, winning a Nass maiden before following up in a 3m Grade 1 novice at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting. Off since.

Form: 1561/11-

Inothewayurthinkin^t²²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: K M Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 158

22/1

Useful novice hurdler and even better form over fences, justifying strong support when opening his chase account in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham before taking the step back up to Grade 1 level in his stride at Aintree in April. Another potential top-notcher in this line-up.

Form: 223911-

Journey With Me^t²⁰⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D J O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 162| D

11/1

High-class chaser. 11¾ lengths seventh of 9 to Fastorslow in Punchestown Gold Cup at this course (25f, good to soft, 33/1). Off 6 months. Back down in trip.

Form: 21F/317-

Minella Cocooner²¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 158| D

66/1

Very smart chaser. Career best when winning 20-runner handicap chase (17/2) at Sandown (28.7f, good). Off 7 months. Significantly down in trip. Vulnerable at this level of competition.

Form: 313631-

Spillane's Tower²⁰⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J W Kennedy| T: J J Mangan| OR: 155| CD

18/1

Very smart chaser. 5/2, career best when winning 7-runner Champion Novices' Chase at this course (25f, good to soft) in April, beating Monty's Star by ¾ length. Off 6 months. Back down in trip. Looks capable of even better.

Form: 411211-

Non-Runners

Blue Lord³⁶⁴

Weight: 11-12| Age: 9

T: W P Mullins J: S F O'Keeffe

Forecasts

Fastorslow (6/4), Galopin Des Champs (16/5), Fact To File (7/2), Journey With Me (11/1), Grangeclare West (12/1), Spillane's Tower (18/1), Inothewayurthinkin (22/1), Blue Lord (33/1), Minella Cocooner (66/1)

The best of last season's staying novice chasers take on the established big 2 in this division in a belting renewal. FASTORSLOW proved too strong for Galopin des Champs in this 12 months ago and is taken to come out on top again. Fact Or File may prove the best of the four Grade 1 novice chase winners from last season in this very strong line-up.