John Durkan Memorial Chase Tips: Fastorslow can down Mullins pair
A sensational early season treat comes to us on Sunday at Punchestown, with last season's Gold Cup winner taking on his fiercest rival, along with a young pretender coming for the crown. Billy Grimshaw previews the John Durkan Memorial Chase right here...
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It will be a tough job for the field in the John Durkan to compete for race of the weekend with Saturday's stunning feature at the same track of Punchestown, the Morgiana Hurdle. Brighterdaysahead excelled attacking the best of the best in open company in State Man and is now a live Champion Hurdle contender, and Fact To File will attempt to follow in her footsteps and assert himself as a Gold Cup contender with a win here. It is a real baptism of fire for last season's wide margin Brown Advisory winner, with the two best staying chasers around entered to take him on.
Galopin Des Champs sets the standard as a two time Gold Cup hero and if he brings his A Game, we know FASTORSLOW cannot keep up. However, this race is almost certainly set up for the Martin Brassil charge, who has lowered the colours of Galopin Des Champs twice already in his career away from the big dance at Cheltenham. He is a quicker, more nimble jumper than his old adversary and with this race being just short of two and a half miles, one has to suspect he will have too much toe for both Galopin Des Champs and indeed perhaps his stablemate Fact To File.
Fact To File is the great unknown in this three way battle for glory, as we are yet to see him really tested. The best horse the Mullins JP youngster has faced so far is another stablemate in Gaelic Warrior, who proved his brilliance in winning the Arkle on his next start, however on the day they clashed it is unclear if Fact To File took Gaelic Warrior into deep waters that he could not handle, or if the enigmatic Ricci runner was simply having an off day. If that performance was true to form, Fact To File may well be the second coming and he will find this trip no issue, however I'm of the impression he is more of a stayer.
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The prices have fallen in line with my opinion on the race as raceday has approached, with Fastorslow now favourite and Fact To File drifting out a touch in what is a massive test first time up. 5/2 is probably the limit of the price I'm willing to take in a race this deep, but I do still think he is the most likely winner. Despite dedicating the first 65% of this piece solely to the trio leading the market, this is no three horse race and another JP runner in Spillanes Tower should not be underestimated despite the fact Mark Walsh prefers Fact To File.
He doesn't have a great record fresh, however, so market vibes will be important (as they always are with green and gold runners). I'm a massive fan of Inothewayurthinkin for Gavin Cromwell in the same colours who is set to run here, but he looks a real galloper and I can't see him having the zip first time up to compete here. Don't be perturbed if you fancy him for the Gold Cup and he is walloped here!
Grangeclare West is another Mullins horse that is here for his first taste of open company and, like plenty in the field, will almost certainly be better up in trip later in the campaign but I do like the fact he's won off a big break before. I'd prefer Danny on him over Patrick, however, but Danny is stuck with Minella Cocooner, who will surely be outclassed and is a massive price. If a few underperform Journey With Me could hit the frame for the in-form De Bromhead team, but again I'd expect him to improve as the season rumbles on, while Blue Lord has it all to do.