Punchestown

Formscan By Eamonn Murphy - Pretty much by default, the selection here is APT APPROACH. The question is - can you really fancy any of his rivals. Going through them one by one – Corbally Ghost, a promising youngster back in the winter of 2011 but off a 437 day break he can't be tipped – not at least until market reference is at our disposal. He must concede weight too, to some seasoned performers and Mount Colah must do likewise. He hasn't run since the Galway Festival and on these terms he has plenty on his plate. A veteran at this stage, Dancing Tornado finished behind Apt Approach in the Paddy Power Chase last time and only a veteran's chase last November afforded him the chance to end a long losing run. De Valira and Western Leader have been anything but easy horses to train and admirable and all as the latter is, you'd imagine Apt Approach is more likely to produce his best form at this juncture. Dressedtothenines has a chance given the conditions of this event but a six-year-old mare with one win under her belt will do well to beat the multiple winners that she faces now. Apt Approach meanwhile, has the considerable assistance of Ruby Walsh in the plate and he won a similar event to this as recently as the middle of December – at Fairyhouse.