Punchestown’s Grade 1 John Durkan Chase brings a sparkling end to the weekend’s jumps action. GG tipster Joe Napier has a selection in that race against favourite Fact To File among three in total on the card.
1.52 Punchestown – Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle
Mark Walsh is aboard Brazil of the JP McManus pair in this qualifier as he definitely has the more established form, but INTENT APPROACH could well have more to offer from further down the handicap with Aidan Kelly’s 3lb claim ensuring he carries less than 10 stone here.
The six-year-old has not been the smartest jumper of a hurdler despite some promising runs in his novice hurdling season, but he finally got off the mark for Charles Byrnes at the seventh attempt at Down Royal in April 2024, but then missed the best part of 18 months. However, his two runs since a long absence have shown promise, as he was not beaten far when seventh at Listowel, then was making stealthy progress at Clonmel over 3m on soft before making a mistake at the second last.
That he was running such a big race on just his second start back from a mammoth layoff suggests there is plenty of mileage in his mark and the handicapper has even saw fit to drop him 1lb to a rating of 115 here. As this is a Pertemps qualifier, he will likely need to win to make the final field at Cheltenham on ratings, so he should now be finely tuned to go close.
2.27 Punchestown – Matchbook Betting Exchange Craddockstown Novice Chase (Grade 2)
Neither of the two clear favourites, Fleur In The Park and Westport Cove, set a daunting standard, the latter at least offering the promise of improvement for champion trainer Willie Mullins. However, they are worth opposing and rank outsider QUALIMITA is interesting despite being a maiden over obstacles.
Gordon Elliott’s mare is second choice on paper for her stable behind recent Cheltenham runner-up Relieved Of Duties, but soft ground asks a question of him whereas it might suit the selection. She ran well on a number of occasions against her own sex without quite winning last season, though she likely would have done but for a penultimate flight fall when odds-on at Tramore in April.
It is her recent chase debut and former point-to-point winning exploits which stand out for this contest though. She was second to the talented Break My Soul at Gowran Park and was 22 lengths clear of the remainder of the field, which featured some decent rivals. She also won her only point by 30 lengths, so she should improve further over fences, perhaps over further in time, but may have a shock up her sleeve here before then.
3.00 Punchestown – John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (Grade 1)
Despite there being so many winners of big races here, at least half the field are easy to rule out for win purposes. Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin is interesting at his price as he may well show up better in this race this season than he did last, but focus remains on the pre-eminent Mullins duo of Fact To File and GAELIC WARRIOR.
Fact To File won this in game fashion last year and has proven extremely difficult to beat over intermediate distances over fences. One of his breakout performances came when beating Gaelic Warrior in a match at Leopardstown, but the selection is both a better horse going right-handed and will be more at home on soft going here.
Gaelic Warrior was wrongly aimed at the Champion Chase for much of last season, but in hindsight he ran a big race over 2m1f on his return in Leopardstown’s Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase last December. He clearly shows up well fresh, beating Inothewayurthinkin by 15 lengths on his return two seasons ago over course and distance on soft ground, so we know these conditions suit him just as well as Fact To File and Paul Townend will be keen to get one over on Mark Walsh here.
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