16:50 Punchestown

Thursday 2 May 2019

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

Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 9m 37.2s

Josies Orders^b⁵⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 12-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: E Bolger| OR: 149| C

8/11

Cross Country royalty, denied a neck by stablemate Auvergnat in this race last year. Has won here this season and 'best of the rest' behind Tiger Roll's Cheltenham procession in March. Clearly a major player.

Form: 1-01312

Sizing Coal^p⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-3| J: Mr J J Codd| T: J T R Dreaper| OR: 130

4/1

Runner-up to useful Ucello Conti in Fairyhouse Hunters Chase 11 days ago, has run well over stamina-sapping trips in the past and needs to be considered here.

Form: 14-21P2

Ballyboker Bridge^p¹²²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Maher| OR: 100| C

12/1

Popular and game veteran, he was third in this contest 12 months ago and, with just outings since, has likely been plotting a return for another challenge.

Form: 6U/U3-3U

Donjon²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr A Murphy⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs D A Love

66/1

Recent record of this winning pointer makes grim reading, completing only once in three hunter chase outings, and was eventually beaten 40L over the banks here on Tuesday.

Form: 4P6FF-6

Jarob⁵⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G O'Loughlin| OR: 137| C

7/2

Decent efforts in 3m6f Cross County events at Cheltenham this season either side of fair run in Navan Grade 3 hurdle in January. The 12-year-old could have another big race in him.

Form: 4P4355

Like A Demon²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr L J McGuinness⁽⁷⁾| T: N Slevin| OR: 100

25/1

Best recent effort when third of 10 to Burning Ambition in hunter at Down Royal in March, but may be flattered by that. Pulled up here on Tuesday in the curtain-raiser over the banks.

Form: 5P033-U

Mtada Supreme⁸¹

Age: 14| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr B O Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: P Maher| OR: 97| C

14/1

Dual banks winner here, was credible third in February in 3m1f Cross Country contest. Fancied for this race in 2017 and still going smoothly when ran out before third last. 14-years young.

Form: 7P-P2P3

Vital Island^t²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr M J Scallan⁽⁷⁾| T: R P O'Keeffe

50/1

Was racing prominently when coming down before the mid-point in Festival opener on Tuesday. Poor record under rules (0-5) and would have to produce career-best to get his head in front with stamina to prove.

Form: 4263U-F

Samsara^b⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr H D Dunne⁽⁵⁾| T: G J McKeever

66/1

Won five times over fences in France but has been well held in moderate point-to-points since joining her current yard. Looks up against it but she does have youth on her side.

Form: P63766

Non-Runners

King's Song¹⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 9

T: D Broad J: D F O'Regan

Forecasts

Josies Orders (8/11), Jarob (7/2), Sizing Coal (4/1), Ballyboker Bridge (12/1), Mtada Supreme (14/1), King's Song (20/1), Like A Demon (25/1), Vital Island (50/1), Donjon (66/1), Samsara (66/1)

Second in this last year, Enda Bolger's JOSIES ORDERS has a perfect chance to go one better. He could do no more than chase home Tiger Roll at Cheltenham and looks the one to be with here. Ballyboker Bridge was third 12 months ago and should be primed again while King's Song and the veteran Jarob are each-way alternatives.