John Durkan Preview Just four go to post but what a prospect in store as the previous two winners are taken on by the Willie Mullins-trained pair Sir Des Champs and Arvika Ligeonniere in Sunday's John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase. Flemenstar won the argument with a brilliant display in this two-and-a-half-mile Grade One 12 months ago, but Sir Des Champs reversed the placings when the pair met in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown in early February. Sir Des Champs continued to go from strength to strength for the remainder of the campaign, following up his superb second behind Bobs Worth at Cheltenham with victory at the Punchestown Festival. Mullins said: "He looks great and I have been very happy with his work. I've always thought he's got plenty of speed. He's a horse that carries condition and always looks a bit big. "All going well (on Sunday), the Lexus will be the plan at Leopardstown (December 28). This season will be geared around another crack at the Cheltenham Gold Cup. "We had high hopes for him last season but the ground went against us (at Cheltenham), but he still ran a fantastic race to finish second to Bobs Worth. Tactically we might do things a bit differently." Joining Sir Des Champs is stable companion Arvika Ligeonniere, who is unbeaten when going right-handed over fences and looked better than ever when winning on his seasonal return in the Clonmel Oil Chase. Mullins said of Ruby Walsh's mount: "He's very keen and it was great to get a run under his belt early in the season at Clonmel. He's a shade better going right-handed, but handled Leopardstown well last season and the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase will probably be his target at Leopardstown over Christmas." Following his stunning display a year ago, Flemenstar went on to be placed in the Lexus and the Irish Hennessy, but finished his season with a whimper at Aintree, when he returned home a sick horse. The eight-year-old has since switched trainers from Peter Casey to Tony Martin and although he did win on his comeback in Navan's Fortria Chase, his jumping was not as slick as it has been in the past. Martin said: "Of course it would be great if the result was the same as last year but it is a very good race. He could finish third in it and still have run a cracker." While the bookmakers have Rubi Light as the big outsider of the four, he did win the race two years ago for trainer Robbie Hennessy. After a good first run of the campaign, when just over a length behind Sizing Europe, the eight-year-old returned a sick horse after the Clonmel Oil Chase. Hennessy said: "He looks up against it as the other three are three of the best chasers in the country. But, if there are any flaws in them on the day, we'll be hoping to pick up the pieces. "He came back a sick horse from Clonmel. We knew something was wrong as he stopped too quickly and he had a slight lung infection. He's in good order again now, though, and Barry Geraghty gets a good tune out of him. I've no concern about the ground, it is just that he handles heavy better than the others. "Flemenstar likes to make it, we like to be up there, and so does Arvika - they'll be taking no prisoners. I just hope we run well and come back safe."
