The latest chapter in the rivalry between Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow could be overshadowed by a rising star in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase on Sunday.
Fact To File romped to glory in last season’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and has been talked about as a contender for next year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup by Willie Mullins.
Whether the seven-year-old can serve it up to the big two is one of the key questions set to be answered in a fantastic renewal of the John Durkan.
Stablemate Galopin Des Champs is the current top dog in the staying ranks after landing a second Cheltenham Gold Cup in the spring, but he has been beaten by Fastorslow in their last three meetings at Punchestown.
Fact To File spearheads a trio of JP McManus-owned runners in the Punchestown epic as Mildmay Novices’ Chase scorer Inothewayurthinkin and dual Grade 1 winner Spillane’s Tower also take their chance.
The thrilling field also features the long-awaited return of Grangeclare West, who is two from two over fences after demolishing classy rivals in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase last year.
The fact multiple Grade 1 winner Blue Lord, 162-rated Journey With Me and bet365 Gold Cup hero Minella Cocooner are rank outsiders is a sign of the depth in the line-up for Sunday’s 14:25.
The latest John Durkan odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase 2024 verdict
Timeform: 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.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase 2024.
Blue Lord
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: S. F. O’Keeffe Age: 9 Weight: 11st 12lbs
High-class chaser. Course winner. Seven wins from 16 NH runs. 6/1, 6½ lengths fourth of 6 to Fastorslow in last year’s John Durkan. Off since.
**
Fact To File
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: M. P. Walsh Age: 7 Weight: 11st 12lbs
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.
****
Fastorslow
Trainer: Martin Brassil Jockey: Mr D. O’Connor Age: 8 Weight: 11st 12lbs
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.
*****
Galopin Des Champs
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: P. Townend Age: 8 Weight: 11st 12lbs
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.
****
Grangeclare West
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Mr P. W. Mullins Age: 8 Weight: 11st 12lbs
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.
****
Inothewayurthinkin
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell Jockey: Keith Donoghue Age: 6 Weight: 11st 12lbs
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.
****
Journey With Me
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: D. J. O’Keeffe Age: 8 Weight: 11st 12lbs
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.
**
Minella Cocooner
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: D. E. Mullins Age: 8 Weight: 11st 12lbs
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.
**
Spillane’s Tower
Trainer: James Joseph Mangan Jockey: J. W. Kennedy Age: 6 Weight: 11st 12lbs
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.
***
Read More on the John Durkan 2024
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
- John Durkan trends and stats for Punchestown 2.25 on Sunday
- When is the John Durkan? Punchestown date, start time, runners and betting
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