November 26 / 14.30 Punchestown

14.30

Soft To Heavy

John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £52212.39
  • 2m 3f 150y
  • 6 runners
RTE1
View Course
John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (Grade 1)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £7.20
  • Place: £2.00

Form: /5521- C

Last run: 214 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 168

Form & Verdict
Twice second in Cheltenham festival handicaps, in the 2022 Coral Cup and when just held by Corach Rambler in last season's Ultima Handicap; produced a major giant-killing act when beating Galopin Des Champs over 3m here in April; repeat seems unlikely at this trip, since he was a remote fifth in this race last year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

24th Nov 2024

Yielding

2m 3f 150y

14:25 Punchestown

Fastorslow

11st 12lb

J: Mr Derek O’Connor

T: Martin Brassil

prominent

5/2

4th

3

24th Nov 2024

Yielding

2m 3f 150y

14:25 Punchestown

Fastorslow

11st 12lb

J: Mr Derek O’Connor

T: Martin Brassil

prominent

5/2

14/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 13432- C

Last run: 215 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Top-class novice hurdler in 2020/21 season; career interrupted before resuming with 2m beginners' chase win here a year ago, making all; followed up in a very weak Naas contest before failing to score in four Grade 1 attempts; lowest-rated of the five Mullins runners.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 66y

15:20 Thurles

Appreciate It

11st 8lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Former top-class novice hurdler still going strong at the veteran stage; beat two shorter-priced stablemates in this race last season; brought down at the 21st in the Grand National; smart form when chasing home stablemate Gaelic Warrior in the Oaksey Chase at Sandown; resumed with second to Affordale Fury here in November; form franked in the Savills.

10/11

2nd

1

26th Apr 2025

Good

2m 6f 164y

Class 1

14:25 Sandown

Appreciate It

11st 8lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

11yo who ended a long losing run when beating stablemate Classic Getaway by 6l in Grade 2 at Thurles in January (2m5f, good); brought down ten fences out in the Grand National three weeks ago; it's possible he might run into a place but a few of the others have stronger claims.

16/1

Form: /1112- CD BF

Last run: 214 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 179

Form & Verdict
Had won all six completed starts over fences before being mastered by Fastorslow over 3m here in April, a sharp reversal of the form of this race 12 months ago which he won readily; much too strong for Stattler in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown before 7l defeat of Bravemansgame in the Cheltenham Gold Cup; should now resume on a winning note.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 100y

15:30 Leopardstown

Galopin Des Champs

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Deprived of a third Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph by Inothewayurthinkin following a thoroughly satisfactory preparation in the shape of two C&D wins, following the same pattern as the previous seasons, taking in the Savills and this race, which he won for the third time last year; got tired on his reappearance in the Savills this time; should be spot-on now.

13/8

1st

2

30th Apr 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

17:30 Punchestown

Galopin Des Champs

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

made all, clear 3 out, went further clear after 2 out, kept on well, impressive

5/4

OUR TIP

Form: 11283- C

Last run: 215 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 163

Form & Verdict
Good 6-10 record over fences; career-best when winning 2m1f Grade 1 at Leopardstown last Christmas; overturned at long odds-on by stablemate Gentleman de Mee at Dublin Racing Festival; never going well in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham and made little impact in third behind stablemate Energumene when dropped in trip here at the festival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

30th Apr 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 80y

18:05 Punchestown

Blue Lord

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

in touch with leaders, chased clear leader 8th

6/1

1

30th Apr 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 80y

18:05 Punchestown

Blue Lord

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

in touch with leaders, chased clear leader 8th

6/1

3

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Blue Lord

11st 8lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Three Grade 1 wins in 2022; this 10yo isn't the same force nowadays but he took a step back in right direction when 13l third of six in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase (2m5f, good) latest; on a dangerous mark and not ruled out.

7/1

Form: /212-0 CD

Last run: 190 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 160

Form & Verdict
Former Grade 1 novice hurdle winner; not the most dependable sort over fences, although his only two chase wins have come at this venue, notably a 2m5f handicap at the 2021 festival; campaigned exclusively over hurdles last term, won a Grade 2 event at Fairyhouse in April and ran well behind stablemate Klassical Dream here later that month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 7f 110y

18:00 Punchestown

Asterion Forlonge

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

towards rear, good headway on inner when not fluent 3 out, challenging after 2 out, outpaced approaching last, ran on and went second inside final 110yds, no match for winner

12/1

2nd

1

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 7f 110y

18:00 Punchestown

Asterion Forlonge

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

towards rear, good headway on inner when not fluent 3 out, challenging after 2 out, outpaced approaching last, ran on and went second inside final 110yds, no match for winner

12/1

Form: 1/22P- D

Last run: 254 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 163

Form & Verdict
Won the 3m6f National Hunt Chase at the 2022 Cheltenham festival; ran only three times last season; decent effort against the 8lb-receiving Minella Indo at Tramore; posed no threat to Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup; struggled from early in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, tongue-tie on for the first time now; trip looks inadequate.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

16:40 Cheltenham

Stattler

12st 0lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: Faye Bramley

Won the 3m6f National Hunt Chase at this meeting four years ago when in the care of Willie Mullins, for whom he signed off when pulled up in the 2024 Grand National; remains in the same ownership; long absence before competitive shows in hunter chases at Hereford and Fakenham; cheekpieces added; all ground comes alike to him; could be running on when others have cried enough.

12/1

1st

4

13th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

15:25 Fakenham

Stattler

11st 12lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: Faye Bramley

Classy customer when with Willie Mullins, winning the 2022 National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham; looked sure to win after an absence at Hereford (2m5f, soft) only to be reeled in at the death; probably the one to beat.

8/13

2nd

6

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

16:00 Hereford

Stattler

11st 12lb

J: Mr Nick Orpwood

T: Faye Bramley

2022 National Hunt Chase winner, with several decent efforts in Grade 1s and 2s since, but he's been absent since pulling up in the 2024 Grand National on final start for Willie Mullins; off for 653 days but the one to beat if retaining much of his ability on hunter chase and stable debut.

4/6

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €38.40
Straight Forecast €58.40
Trifecta €84.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Galopin Des Champs

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Galopin Des Champs

TOPSPEED:

Galopin Des Champs

POSTDATA:

Galopin Des Champs

The Irish Sun:

Galopin Des Champs