John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:42 | Winning time: 5m 23.8s

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Selected odds by:

Allaho²⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 160| BF

11/4

Promising sort. 5/2, very good 2 lengths third of 10 to Champ in RSA Cheltenham (3m, soft) in March. That was only his third chase start so every chance there's more to come this term.

Form: 13/2213-

Battleoverdoyen^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 160| C| D

9/2

High-class chaser. Career best when winning 5-runner Grade 2 chase (9/2) at Down Royal (19.6f, heavy) on reappearance 36 days ago by 6 lengths from Easy Game, keeping on well.

Form: 111F4-1

Chris's Dream³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 164| BF| D

11/2

High-class chaser. Creditable neck second of 9 to The Storyteller in Champion Chase at Down Royal (3m, heavy) on reappearance. Will be just as effective back down in trip.

Form: 5/P110-2

Le Richebourg⁶⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 158| D

33/1

Very smart novice chaser in 2018/19 but not seen since winning Grade 1 Arkle Novices' Chase at Leopardstown (17f, good) by 7 lengths from Us And Them 22 months ago.

Form: 511211/

Melon^p²⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 159

22/1

Very smart chaser. Nose second of 12 to Samcro in Golden Miller at Cheltenham (19.8f, soft, 14/1), going with enthusiasm. Off 8 months. Yard having good spell.

Form: 702142-

Min²⁶⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 169| CD

13/8

Top-class chaser who is seeking a hat-trick in this race. Notched a deserved Cheltenham Festival success when edging out Saint Calvados in Ryanair when last seen in March. The one to beat.

Form: 51/2121-

Tornado Flyer²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153| BF| CD

12/1

Smart chaser. 5/2, good second of 17 in handicap chase at this course (19.7f, heavy) on reappearance 22 days ago. Bit to find at this level, though.

Form: 11P35-2

Non-Runners

Samcro³⁶

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: Jack Kennedy

Forecasts

Min (13/8), Allaho (11/4), Battleoverdoyen (9/2), Chris's Dream (11/2), Samcro (6/1), Tornado Flyer (12/1), Melon (22/1), Le Richebourg (33/1)

MIN is one of the most reliable top-class chasers around and is taken to win this Grade 1 for the third year in succession. The main threat may come from within his own stable as Allaho rates one destined for Grade 1 success before long after finishing third in the RSA at the Cheltenham Festival on only his third chase start. Chris's Dream may prove best of the remainder in a cracking renewal.