The depth of quality in tomorrow's John Durkan Memorial Chase (1.40) is such that there is a total of 14 Grade One successes among the eight-strong field as Min eyes a record-breaking hat-trick in the Punchestown feature. Recent Grade Two winner Battleoverdoyen, last year's Marsh Chase winner Samcro, Marsh runner-up Melon and RSA Chase third Allaho add more intrigue to a stellar renewal as well as the return of two-time Grade One winner Le Richebourg from injury. Being scratched from the Champion Chase due to a minor setback last March was a sickener for all concerned, but it's hard to get away from his Ladbrokes Dublin Chase defeat of Min in February and the eight-year-old sets a seriously high bar here. Stablemate Cash Back has hit the deck on his last two starts so Gordon Elliott's Chosen Mate might be the most likely to throw down the gauntlet to Chacun Pour Soi, although anything other than the hotpot obliging would be a massive turn-up for the books. The Bosses Oscar is unexposed, though, and the five-year-old should relish this stamina test under Jack Kennedy after scoring on his return.

Source: Irish Independent December 05, 2020 02:36 UTC