John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 5m 37.40s

Fakir D'Oudairies²³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 165| D

11/2

Top-class chaser. Eight wins from 21 NH runs. Respectable 20¾ lengths fifth of 9 to Allaho in Punchestown Gold Cup at this course (24.1f, good to soft, 7/1). Good record when fresh and should make his presence felt.

Form: 142115-

Fastorslow²³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Slevin| T: M Brassil| BF

66/1

Smart hurdler. 10/3, good second of 24 in handicap hurdle at this course (19.1f, soft). Off 7 months and switches from hurdles to chase. Open to improvement in this sphere but this is a big ask.

Form: 12/0022-

Galopin Des Champs²⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 172| C| D

2/9

Promising sort. 2/11, career best when winning 4-runner Gold Cup Novices' Chase at Fairyhouse (20f, soft) by 18 lengths from Master Mcshee, impressively. Very exciting prospect and, granted a clear round, he'll prove hard to beat.

Form: 11/11F1-

Haut En Couleurs²³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149

16/1

Very smart chaser. 3/1, 15¾ lengths fifth of 6 to Blue Lord in Barberstown Castle Novices' Chase (Colliers) at this course (16f, good to soft). Off 7 months and up in trip. Galopin des Champs is clearly the stable No 1.

Form: 33/1F65-

Lifetime Ambition²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 155| C| D

18/1

Very smart chaser. 8/1, good second of 18 in handicap chase at Navan (24f, heavy) 22 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Good chance of picking up some minor place money.

Form: 7212-42

Vanillier^t⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 147| C

50/1

Smart chaser. Course winner. 13 lengths third of 4 to Fury Road in Gr 2 chase (9/2) at Down Royal (19.6f, soft) 44 days ago. Looks set for a struggle in this contest.

Form: 13336-3

Non-Runners

Fury Road⁴⁴

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: Jack Kennedy

Forecasts

Galopin Des Champs (2/9), Fakir D'Oudairies (11/2), Fury Road (12/1), Haut En Couleurs (16/1), Lifetime Ambition (18/1), Vanillier (50/1), Fastorslow (66/1)

The sky is the limit for GALOPIN DES CHAMPS, who would be unbeaten over fences but for falling at the last with the race in his mercy at the Cheltenham Festival in March. His jumping has otherwise been pretty much foot-perfect since switched to fences and he is taken to provide Willie Mullins with yet another winner in this prestigious contest. Fakir d'Oudairies is taken to better his fourth-place finish in this last year and follow the selection home, ahead of Lifetime Ambition and Fury Road.