John Durkan update Previous winners Joncol and Tranquil Sea will go head to head in a thrilling renewal of the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown this Sunday. The pair have only met on one other occasion and it was Tranquil Sea who came out on top with a narrow victory over Joncol in 2009. Joncol, a winner on his seasonal debut at Thurles in early November, will enjoy the soft ground and his trainer Paul Nolan said “we were very happy with his run at Thurles and he came out of the race fine. Preparations have gone well since and we hope he runs a decent race on Sunday”. Last year’s race, won by Tranquil Sea, was transferred to Fairyhouse due to snow cover at Punchestown. Tranquil Sea already has Grade 1 winning form at the track having won over the same distance of two miles five furlongs in the champion novice hurdle at the 2008 festival. His trainer Edward O’Grady commented “Tranquil Sea is in super form. He is a course and distance winner at Punchestown and we are very much looking forward to Sundays race. Barry Geraghty will take the ride”. It is ten years since Willie Mullins landed his only win in the Grade 1 Durkan with Florida Pearl and at this point both Kempes and Cooldine could bid to improve that tally. Kempes has logged a Grade 1 win at Punchestown in the 2010 Growise Champion Novice Chase over 3m1f. The champion trainer said “Kempes has winning form at Punchestown and Cooldine ran well last time out so we are looking forward to them both running in the John Durkan Memorial on Sunday”. Sunday’s contest will host the much anticipated return of Rubi Light who looked like a sure winner at Gowran back in October before falling at the final fence. According to his trainer Robbie Hennessy “at the moment Rubi Light is a definite runner in the John Durkan. He is in great form. He is schooling well and his last fence fall at Gowran doesn’t seem to have affected him in any way. We missed the JN Wine Chase at Down Royal as we just weren’t one hundred percent happy but he is ready for Sunday”. Another likely representative will be Roi Du Mee whose trainer Gordon Elliott said “Roi Du Mee will more than likely take his chance. The more rain the better for him as he wants genuinely soft ground”. Trainer Lar Butler also intends running his Trafford Lad and said “we gave him a run in Navan where he finished fourth behind Big Zeb to get him ready for the Punchestown race. He came out of that very well and has been grand since so he should run a big race on Sunday”. The current going at Punchestown is soft to heavy with no rainfall overnight. The forecast remain unsettled for the week with further showers and cold fresh winds due.
