Sunday’s John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase was billed as the race of the season and did not disappoint as last term’s top novice chasers Fact To File and Spillane’s Tower, both owned by JP McManus, fought out a memorable finish.
All the Punchestown action! (Pic – Supplied)
This early season Group 1 had everything. A bold-jumping display from the front by the champ Galopin Des Champs provided much of the drama but did not deliver a winning outcome, as Mark Walsh on Fact To File and Jack Kennedy on Spillane’s Tower were content to sit off the generous pace, and the dual Gold Cup hero began to feel the pressure just before the last.
Fact To File made his move between the last two fences, with Spillane’s Tower following him through travelling best. It was all to play for jumping the last, with Spillane’s Tower looking to have the momentum, but Walsh had saved a bit, and he managed to produce just enough to hold off his younger rival by half a length.
Willie Mullins who saddled the reigning champion and the young pretender observed: “I think testament to the race was the fact my horse Grangeclare West, who tried to keep up with Galopin Des Champs, had to pull up before the last. It shows they went a true gallop and Galopin kept on to finish third, so it was a fantastic run. I certainly wouldn’t be writing him off yet.”
As for the winner, he said: “I thought we were beaten when Spillane’s Tower came up beside us on the run-in, so it shows that Fact To File has made that leap to senior company. Mark said that he took a blow and when he got his second wind, he stayed on well to win. I love that he found that extra bit to get home.”
“It was a brilliant renewal of this race, probably one of the best ever. I think it (Gold Cup) is going to be some race at the end of the season.”
Spillane’s Tower’s trainer Jimmy Mangan remarked: “I’m absolutely over the moon with him. He hasn’t been on grass since he won here at the festival. We couldn’t, the ground has just been too firm. We have everything to look forward to now.”
Last year’s winner Fastorslow was the one slight disappointment, beaten six and a half lengths back in fourth, and trainer Martin Brassil said: “He travelled well to the third-last when he got upsides the leader, but he just couldn’t accelerate on that dead ground. It’s the first time we’ve run him on ground like that, but he kept going to the line and we’re happy with him.”
Fact To File and Spillane’s Tower both showed great progression to defeat the established brigade on their first start in open company. However, Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow appreciate further so it was effectively the speed horses coming out on top.
It always had the makings of an informative weekend in the Gold Cup division, with five of the first six in the ante-post market for the Cheltenham showpiece making their seasonal returns in either Haydock’s Betfair Chase or the John Durkan.
Grey Dawning did not win the Gr1 Betfair Chase, but it was a gallant effort in heavy going on his first start out of novice company behind the ‘mudlark’ Royale Pagaille who successfully defended his title.
Galopin Des Champs gave Paul Townend a great spin on his return and will be better back over further, but Fact To File, who did not run over hurdles and was having just his fifth start over fences, is a huge threat to his stablemate’s chances of landing a third Gold Cup.
