2024 John Durkan Memorial Chase Tips

Fact To File should be well suited to the trip of two miles, three and a half furlongs when it comes to the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase. There’s plenty to like about a runner who was successful at the Cheltenham Festival when winning the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase when triumphing by nearly four lengths.

Fastorslow is another capable runner and the eight-year-old was able to oblige at Punchestown back in May, with the horse chinning Galopin Des Champs in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup on 1 May. This came after unseating his rider in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, although this one has to be regarded as a serious contender.

Galopin Des Champs runs for Willie Mullins and the horse has obvious credentials after winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the previous two renewals. The eight-year-old fended off the challenge of Gerri Colombe back in March, with this coming after a success at Leopardstown in early February.

Gaelic Warrior is another Mullins-trained runner with solid credentials, with the six-year-old having last been seen running at Punchestown and finishing second out of four horses. Punters might be warned off by the fact that he was beaten as the 1/3 favourite in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase, although it was a blinding win in the Arkle Chase.

2023 Punchestown Chase Tips

We’re not expecting the favourite to be beaten when Galopin Des Champs lines up in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, with the seven-year-old having been the impressive winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup last season. It was an impressive seven-length victory in the Festival’s blue riband race, having previously landed wins at Punchestown Racecourse and Leopardstown.

However, the odds-on favourite was beaten in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup the following month, with Fastorslow claiming a victory by two and a half lengths and the latter is entered in this encounter. Some punters might be keen to get behind this horse based on that former achievement, with the horse having also run well at the Cheltenham Festival.

Martin Brassil saw his charge finish second to Corach Rambler in the Ultima Handicap Chase where Fastorslow was beaten by a neck, with Blue Lord also running for trainer Willie Mullins and the horse produced a solid performance last time out when finishing third in a competitive five-runner race at Punchestown which was won by Energumene.

Fakir D’oudairies was last seen running well at Aintree when second behind Pic D’Orhy in the Marsh Chase, with this coming after finishing third in the Betfair Ascot Chase. Appreciate It also has a strong track record and the nine-year-old could end up being a popular wager, with the horse finishing second in a Novice Chase at Punchestown.