Attrition Heads Durkan Field War Of Attrition will face a maximum of eight rivals as he bids to maintain his tremendous start to the season in Sunday´s John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase. After defeating Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King on his reappearance at Punchestown in October, Mouse Morris´ fast-improving chaser gained a narrow verdict over Rathgar Beau in the Clonmel Oil Chase last month. War Of Attrition´s chief rival in the Grade One event looks to be Watson Lake, who he beat by a length at the track in April´s Swordlestown Cup and was a tidy winner at Navan last month. Other leading players could be Michael O´Brien´s former smart novice Forget The Past, the Michael Hourigan-trained Hi Cloy and the popular veteran Native Upmanship. Jim, Le Coudray, Ned Kelly and Strong Project complete the possibles. Kicking King landed the two-and-a-half-mile race last year before his victory in the King George VI Chase, but Tom Taaffe pulled the horse out at the five-day confirmation stage. “He was never an intended runner and was entered about eight weeks ago for the race,” said Taaffe. “I´ve taken him out at the forfeit stage and he´s spot-on for Sandown.” ? PA Sport
