16:50 Punchestown

Thursday 26 April 2018

All15:4016:1516:5017:3018:0518:4019:1519:45

Friends First Cross Country Chase For The La Touche Cup

Off time: 16:52 | Winning time: 9m 34.40s

Auvergnat⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-7| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 130| C

11/4

Regular in banks chases, held on in a driving finish over 3m here (from Josies Orders) in January after looking like he would win with a bit in hand. Any rain likely to be in his favour and if staying this trip, should be involved in the finish.

Form: 2B3F14

White Arm^p,t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-3| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A J Martin| OR: 122| C

18/1

Recent form has taken a turn for the worse, two non-completions on his card and this is a new test for him. All looks a bit too much for him at present and others preferred.

Form: 2-U15PP

Bless The Wings^p¹²

Age: 13| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 137

11/2

A joy to watch, winner over Cheltenham's cross-country course and excellent third in the Grand National latest start the highlights this year. Is a little inconsistent, and has run poorly in this event before, but that aside, should go well.

Form: PP1FP3

Just Wait And See²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr W J Gleeson⁽⁷⁾| T: J F Gleeson| OR: 86| C

16/1

Winner of the banks chase here on Tuesday, just doing enough to hold off favourite Blue Templar. Clearly in good heart, but this contest is a lot deeper and he'll need to raise his game once more.

Form: PP4441

Ballyboker Bridge^p²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: A E Lynch| T: P Maher| OR: 105| C

12/1

A regular over these fences, and was third in this two years ago, a solid effort. Couple of recent unseats hardly inspires confidence but if he can put in an error-free round, he's got chances of making the minor money again at least.

Form: 3236U-U

Cantlow^b1⁴³

Age: 13| Weight: 11-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: E Bolger| OR: 149| C

5/1

Another that knows these fences like the back of his hand, only just touched off in this last year (on good to form ground) but form this season a bit patchy. May not want much more rain and needs to bounce back to his best form now.

Form: 32-042P

Josies Orders^p²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Ms N Carberry| T: E Bolger| OR: 135| C

5/2

Has won and been placed over these banks, might have gone close in the 2015 version of this but for an unlucky unseat. Well behind in the cross country at the Cheltenham Festival and looking a little below par this season, but hard to dismiss.

Form: 23026P

My Hometown⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr R W Barron⁽⁷⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 114

20/1

Well beaten by a few of these already this season and wasn't sighted behind Bless The Wings at Cheltenham in December (sent off 50/1, so little expected). Despite trainer's excellent banks record, not hard to look elsewhere.

Form: P57468

My Murphy²⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: W J Burke| OR: 140

20/1

Has some useful bits and pieces of form against some useful hunter chasers this year but this represents a whole new test and he's plenty to prove, not least his stamina for this. Others make more appeal.

Form: 13332P

Tom Horn¹¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: P Maher| OR: 107

66/1

Only very moderate form shown including in a couple of bans chases this year, and no realistic chance of taking this.

Form: P-0P9P4

Forecasts

Josies Orders (5/2), Auvergnat (11/4), Cantlow (5/1), Bless The Wings (11/2), Ballyboker Bridge (12/1), Just Wait And See (16/1), White Arm (18/1), My Murphy (20/1), My Hometown (20/1), Tom Horn (66/1)

A few old favourites line up for this year's renewal of the La Touche. Josies Orders probably needs an extreme test like this these days as he seems to have lost a bit of his speed, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him come back to form. He's closely matched with AUVERGNAT on their run here in February but the latter has age on his side and could have more to offer in these banks chases. If he stays, and he gives the impression he will, he can take this. Bless The Wings is a bit in-and-out but was on a going day at Aintree and his third in the National was no less than he deserved. Ballyboker Bridge can give e/w players a good spin for their money.