Hi all,
The thaw has arrived and Punchestown stages its rescheduled John Durkan card with the highlight the reappearance of Galopin Des Champ on the Grade 2 John Durkan Chase (2:10).
Galopin Des Champ seems likely to make a winning return. However, he does face six rivals who include Grade 1 winner Fakir D’oudairies who is also making his seasonal reappearance and the useful Fury Road who does have race fitness on his side.
Besides Galopin Des Champ. Trainer Willie Mullins will run exciting novice chase prospect Appreciate It in the 2m beginners’ chase (2:40).
Inside today’s main preview I have looked at the best of the betting action on the card.
Punchestown
Provided there are no mishaps Galopin Des Champ should win the John Durkan Chase. It is a more interesting race than odds suggest though. You can make a case for Grade 1 winner Fakir D’oudairies who is 4 wins from 6 runs at around 2m 4f but would still be getting 7lb from the favourite if this was a handicap.
I’m happy to watch Appreciate It on chasing debut and hopefully the form high class hurdler can win and emerge as a genuine rival to Jonbon in the 2m novice chase division.
It’s the two handicaps on the card that interest me from a betting perspective and the second of them provides today’s selection.
1:10 – Bodhisattva is the early bird favourite for this 2m 7 ½ f handicap hurdle. The top-weight must carry 12-4 but Gordon Elliott has enlisted a conditional to take off a handy 7lb. There was plenty to like about his 2 length 3rd of 23 to stablemate Jungle Prose at Navan 22-days ago. Today’s slightly longer trip should elicit more improvement in the 5-year-old and he’s the one to beat.
Rebellious Gale was the 100/30 favourite in that Navan race. He finished two places and 9 lengths behind Bodhisattva but a mistake three out didn’t help his cause and he would have finished much closer. Like the favourite he’s another who will be suited by today’s longer trip.
Cher Why Not has run well on both his last two starts but he tends to be ridden from well of the pace and needs a strong pace to chase if those waiting tactics are to prove successful.
Tyre Kicker’s sole hurdle success came on handicap debut here (3m) in May. The 5-year-old was a credible 6 lengths 3rd of 5 to Broadway Boy in novice handicap at Aintree off a much higher British handicap mark 16-days ago. The cheekpieces go on for the first time today and he could be the biggest threat to the likely favourite.
Verdict: Even under top-weight Bodhisattva looks the one beat with Tyre Kicker an interesting rival returned to a venue he goes well at.
Bodhisattva – 2pts win – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Tyre Kicker – 1pt win – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:10 – Sir Bob, twice a winning hurdler, remains a sixteen race maiden over the larger obstacles. He’s run some respectable races over fences, but his jumping has tended to let him down. However, he’s well treated on his best chase form and when it all clicks for him, he can land one of these. Best form over hurdles has come on heavy ground though. If the rain does arrive he’s not one to dismiss.
Beating the Odds was a 2 ¾ length 3rd of 18 in this corresponding race 12 months ago. The 9-year-old was only having his sixth start over fences when a 3 length 2nd of 14 at Thurles on seasonal return last month. Nudged up 1lb but looks more than capable of landing a handicap chase off his present mark.
Beating The Odds – 4/1 @ Bet365.
Cheers
John