14:00 Punchestown

Sunday 5 December 2021

All11:5512:2512:5513:2514:0014:3515:0515:35

John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:03 | Winning time: 5m 24.4s

Allaho^t²²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 174| D

7/2

Top-class chaser. 6/4, good 5½ lengths second of 6 to Chacun Pour Soi in William Hill Champion Chase at this course (16f, good to soft). Off 7 months. Back up in trip. Sets the benchmark.

Form: 3/64112-

Asterion Forlonge^t²¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 162| CD

6/1

High-class chaser. Career best when winning 15-runner handicap chase at this course (21f, good to soft, 11/4), easily. Off 7 months and this is a stiff reappearance.

Form: FF4331-

Envoi Allen^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 163| CD

7/4

High-class chaser. 4/11, didn't need to be at best when winning 6-runner Gr 2 chase at Down Royal (19.6f, soft) 36 days ago by 22 lengths from Echoes of Family, kept up to work. Can build on that.

Form: 111FP-1

Fakir D'Oudairies²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 167| D

10/3

Top-class chaser. 1 win from 2 runs this season. 5/4, career best when winning 4-runner Clonmel Oil Chase at Clonmel (20.7f, heavy) 24 days ago by 15 lengths from Royal Rendezvous, easily.

Form: P2213-1

Franco De Port²²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryony Frost| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153

28/1

Very smart chaser. Latest win in chase at Leopardstown in December. Fell in Champion Novices' Chase at this course (24.6f, good to soft, 40/1) won by Colreevy. Off 7 months.

Form: 11252F-

Janidil²²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J S McGarvey| T: W P Mullins| OR: 157| D

22/1

High-class chaser. 16 lengths second of 4 to Energumene in Ryanair Novices' Chase at this course (16f, good to soft, 4/1), no match for winner. Off 7 months. Back up in trip.

Form: 5/13F12-

Kemboy²²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 166| C| D

25/1

Top-class chaser. Course winner. Nine wins from 23 NH runs. Well-beaten fourth of 6 to Clan Des Obeaux in Punchestown Gold Cup (4/1) at this course (24.6f, good to soft). Off 7 months.

Form: 7/22194-

Melon^p²²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 164

50/1

Very smart chaser. Pulled up in Punchestown Gold Cup at this course (24.6f, good to soft, 12/1) won by Clan Des Obeaux, pulled up eleventh. Off 7 months. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 2/335PP-

Minella Times^t²³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 159| D

66/1

Very smart chaser. Career best when winning 40-runner handicap chase at Aintree (34.3f, good to soft, 11/1), suited by increase in trip. Off 7 months. Trainer going well. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 20/1221-

Tornado Flyer²⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 161| CD

18/1

High-class chaser. Creditable 12½ lengths third of 11 to Allaho in Ryanair Chase (Festival Trophy) (25/1) at Cheltenham (20.6f, good to soft), going in snatches. Off 8 months.

Form: 5/22543-

Forecasts

Envoi Allen (7/4), Fakir D'Oudairies (10/3), Allaho (7/2), Asterion Forlonge (6/1), Tornado Flyer (18/1), Janidil (22/1), Kemboy (25/1), Franco De Port (28/1), Melon (50/1), Minella Times (66/1)

Willie Mullins saddles 7 in what could turn out to be a vintage John Durkan. ALLAHO's devastating Ryanair win is the best piece of form on offer and with fitness seriously unlikely to be an issue, he looks the value play. Envoi Allen's limit hasn't been reached and he has race fitness on his side, as does Fakir D'oudairies.