2.00 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y

Fakir D’oudairies: Dual Melling Chase winner; racing over his optimum distance. Usually runs well fresh, so has most likely had this prize as an early season target. Second highest rated horse in the line-up, he looks a live contender on all known form. Work to do if he is to beat Galopin Des Champs but could be primed for this race.

French Dynamite: Grade 3-winning chaser; made a winning return at Thurles in October, before running a big race when second in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Has a bit to find on official ratings but does have the advantage of being a fit, in-form horse.

Stable have been among the winners of late and he is capable of running well at big odds.

Fury Road: Grade 1-winning chaser over 3m last December; proved no match for Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown but subsequently ran well at the top level at both Aintree and Punchestown.

Stays further but made a winning reappearance over this distance in Grade 2 company at Down Royal last month.

Galopin Des Champs: Dual Grade 1 winning chaser last season; would still be unbeaten over fences had he not fallen at the last in the Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham when 12 lengths clear.

Versatile regarding trip, with the ability to drop down to the minimum or step up to three mile. Hugely exciting chaser who currently heads the market for the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Haut En Couleurs: Placed in two Grade 1s as a juvenile hurdler; made a winning debut over fences at Leopardstown last Christmas, before struggling somewhat when stepped up in class. Still only a five-year-old, he has the potential to do much better this term although appears to have been set a stiff task on this seasonal reappearance.

Stattler: Grade 2 winner over fences; last seen when winning the National Hunt Chase over 3m6f at Cheltenham in March. Likely to find this trip on the sharp side although had the pace to win his bumper over 2m and maiden hurdle at this trip.

Would probably need the race to develop into a real stamina test if he is to feature.

Vanillier: Grade 1 winner over hurdles; not at his best over fences last season after winning a Grade 2 chase here in November; finished well behind Stattler on two occasions and no match for Fury Road on recent return at Down Royal. Would need a career best if he is to make an impact in this company.

The Verdict

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS is a hugely exciting prospect who has the potential to develop into a Gold Cup horse this term. If he is to justify such lofty ambitions, he would need to be beating this opposition, even allowing for the fact that one or two have a race fitness advantage.

Fakir D’oudairies will appreciate this intermediate distance more than most, given that he is a dual Grade 1 winner at the trip.