Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece, I’ll be reflecting on the weekend action at Punchestown and sharing a couple of future winners for the tracker.
Punchestown
The quality of British racing was strong over the weekend, but it was even better across the Irish Sea. Saturday featured the Morgiana Hurdle, almost a mini Champion Hurdle. Sunday delivered the John Durkan Chase, boasting a line-up that might even outshine the Cheltenham Gold Cup field in March.
Before diving into the Morgiana Hurdle and John Durkan Chase, a quick word on Ballyburn’s much anticipated chase debut.
Ballyburn’s Promising Start
Last season’s top novice hurdler, Ballyburn, made a winning debut over fences in the Conway Piling Beginners Chase (2m 3f). It was a straightforward success; he led from the start and never saw a rival. Apart from a slightly awkward first jump, he was assured and confident at his fences.
For me, Irish novice and beginners' chases can be misleading, with front-runners often doing all the racing while others hunt for handicap marks. Winning distances don’t always tell the true story, so it’s more about observing how a horse travels and jumps.
Ballyburn proved he’s built for chasing and still possesses the big engine we saw over hurdles. What he does next will be fascinating to watch.
Brighterdaysahead Dethrones State Man
Brighterdaysahead used her race fitness to edge out State Man, who was seeking a third Morgiana Hurdle success. Gordon Elliott’s mare delivered another step forward and must now be considered a genuine Champion Hurdle contender.
State Man looked poised for victory when heading Brighterdaysahead approaching the last, but a mistake there allowed the mare to rally and prevail with a gutsy finish. A strong stayer, built for chasing she showed both bravery and speed to win. Her jumping still needs to be brushed up but Elliott’s comment that she’s the best mare he has trained was vindicated.
State Man, while beaten, will come on for the run. His two previous wins in the race came against weaker fields, so this defeat might not signal a decline. That said, the two-mile division may prove more competitive for him this season.
Fact To File Reigns in Epic John Durkan Chase
What a race!
Blue Lord was a morning non-runner, but the field still featured a stellar line-up, with every runner officially rated 155+. The race delivered on its billing, producing a thrilling finish.
Galopin Des Champs made much of the early running, taking over from stablemate Grangeclare West at the seventh. He was ridden to exploit his stamina and saw off old rival Fastorslow. However, he was unable to shake of Fact or File and Spillane’s Tower who had too much speed for the Gold Cup winner between the final two fences
Fact To File showed courage to fend off the strong-finishing Spillane’s Tower and was immediately installed as ante-post favourite for the Gold Cup. While the win was impressive, I think the market reaction was premature—Galopin Des Champs should still hold that position.
Spillane’s Tower Shines
Spillane’s Tower ran a blinder in second, coming from further back than the winner. It was another performance that underlines how far Spillane’s Tower has progressed in the last year. He proved he stays further at Punchestown in April over 3m 1f, so this shorter trip was probably less than ideal. Albeit he doesn’t lack pace. A rapid improver, he’s firmly entered the Gold Cup picture for me. Whilst he needs to prove he’s as good going left-handed as this way around. However, if he is then he’s one I like for Cheltenham.
Galopin Des Champs ran a much better race than his effort in last year’s John Durkan and remains the one to beat in the Gold Cup. He’ll improve for this and has young challengers snapping at his heels, but his class is still evident.
Fastorslow, last year’s winner, jumped well but was ultimately disappointing when push came to shove. Meanwhile Inothewayurthinkin, who was a massive drifter before the race, needs at least 3m 2f to show his best form, and this run can be overlooked.
Final Punchestown Thoughts
The John Durkan Chase delivered a thrilling reminder of why jumps racing captivates us. Last season's novice chasers look like a good group, with Fact To File and Spillane's Tower leading the charge. Yet, for now, Galopin Des Champs holds the crown as the king of the staying chase division. Sunday's race likely featured the Gold Cup winner—but will it be Galopin Des Champs, Fact To File, or Spillane's Tower?
Future Winners:
Here are a few horses to keep on your radar following the weekend's racing. Let’s begin with the two obvious ones.
Iroko
As mentioned in Monday’s column, Iroko is being aimed at the Grand National. While Aintree is the ultimate target, his performance behind Trelawne on Saturday showed how much potential remains in this progressive 6-year-old. He travelled strongly and looks poised for much further improvement.
Spillane’s Tower
I’ve already highlighted Spillane’s Tower’s promise in the John Durkan Chase. With that run under his belt, he looks set to claim a Grade 1 chase this winter. Spillane’s Tower’s versatility over different distances also adds to his appeal in open company this season. He could even land the ultimate prize—the Cheltenham Gold Cup. At 12/1 with Ladbrokes, he offers better value compared to Fact To File at 2/1 with the same firm.
Touch Me Not
After just two starts over fences, Touch Me Not is already proving himself a better chaser than hurdler. The 5-year-old delivered a bold jumping display to land the Grade 2 Craddockstown Novice Chase (2m) at Punchestown on Sunday.
While the race looked like an ordinary Grade 2, the time was solid and Touch Me Not’s jumping stood out. You can watch his exhilarating win here.
It’s too early to consider him an Arkle winner in waiting, but Gordon Elliott now has another talented two-mile novice chaser to complement Down Memory Lane. Tougher assignments will reveal more, but this was a highly encouraging performance.
Anyway, onto this week’s future winners for the tracker and they are both mares.
Royale Margaux – Tom Symonds
Royale Margaux a multiple winner when trained in France remains winless (0-12) since joining her present yard. She’s been knocking on the door over fences and produced her best effort over hurdles in the UK when runner-up in a mares’ handicap hurdle at Ascot on Saturday. Equally adept over fences, and with a mark that looks workable in both spheres, she should find a race this winter.
The Big Westerner – Henry de Bromhead
Henry de Bromhead unleashed another promising novice hurdle prospect in The Big Westerner, who impressed on her hurdling debut in a 2m 5½f maiden hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday. A winner of her sole point-to-point, but for a mistake at the last she would have won comfortably. A half-sister to Stay Away Fay, an Albert Bartlett winner, she should progress further, especially over longer trips on soft ground.
Honourable Mentions
Kamsinas (4th, Haydock, Saturday): Finished strongly in a 2m 3f handicap hurdle, suggesting a step up in trip would suit. Likely to progress further and can handle better ground.
Dans Le Vent (6th, Haydock, Saturday): Nearing 12 but showed enough spark to suggest there’s one more win in him. His best efforts have come over 3m, and a drop-in class could see him capitalise a handy mark.
Monday Highlights: Iberico Lord Opens Account Over Fences
Monday offered little to get excited about apart from a clash between Gidleigh Park and Iberico Lord. Sadly, the contest was over early, as Gidleigh Park was pulled up after the fifth, later diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat.
That left Iberico Lord to win comfortably. The Nicky Henderson-trained gelding didn’t jump fluently at the first three fences, but his technique improved as the race went on. While not the biggest horse, he can progress over fences. Henderson has introduced stars like Altior and Shishkin to fences at this meeting before, and while Iberico Lord isn’t in their league yet, he remains one to watch.
Tuesday Racing: Midweek Angles
I promised myself to steer clear of Class 4 and lower races this winter, but for those keen to have a flutter, here’s my take on two races from Sedgefield and Southwell.
Sedgefield
2:30 – Harper Valley won this 2m 4f handicap hurdle last year and looks primed for another big run after a neck second at Kelso 17 days ago. With the yard in good form, he’s the one to beat here.
Southwell
1:05 – Owner JP McManus dominates the betting for this 2m 4½f handicap chase with the forecast favourite Jasmin De Grugy and second favourite Imperial Bede.
Jasmin De Grugy: Improved significantly last spring for going handicapping landing hat-trick at Ffos Las. Looks capable of a winning chase debut off his current mark.
Imperial Bede: Drops to a winnable mark but is often let down by inconsistent jumping.
No No Tango: Returns from a year off, now with Harry Derham, who boasts an impressive 60% strike rate (6-10) at Southwell. If he’s fit, he could be in the mix.
Goldwyn: Carries top weight on return and goes chasing for the first time. However, Mark Walford’s 50% strike rate (3-6 +9) with chasers here makes him one to note with Charlie Deutsch booked.
Tuesday Verdict
At Sedgefield, Harper Valley should go close. At Southwell, Jasmin De Grugy has the potential to make a winning chase debut, but Goldwyn is worth keeping an eye on at bigger odds.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets!
John