Sackville faces only three at Punchestown

Only four runners will line-up for the big race at Punchestown on Sunday - but there is no shortage of class for the Grade One contest.

The field for the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase is headed by Sackville, trained by Frances Crowley, who is bidding to continue his progress towards the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The eight-year-old gelding completed an eight-timer when beating Limestone Lad in the Grade One Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse in May and won the Peterhouse Group Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last month.

Sackville is quoted as joint favourite - along with French-trained First Gold - by two of the major bookmaking firms for the Festival showpiece.

The other three runners are last year`s winner Native Upmanship (trained by Arthur Moore), runner-up Florida Pearl (Willie Mullins) and Rince Ri (Ted Walsh).

Crowley said today of Sackville: 'He`s fine. He`s in great form and we are happy with him at home.

'It`s going to be soft but that`s not going to be aproblem.

'I think they are all good horses. It`s hard to pick one out. I am afraid of them all but I think he will run well.'

She confirmed that, if Sackville ran well on Sunday, he would be aimed at the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Florida Pearl`s participation in the Punchestown race had been in doubt earlier in the week.

The nine-year-old, who cut his off-fore when third to Foxchapel King at Down Royal on his seasonal debut last month, failed to sparkle in a piece of work on Tuesday, prompting fears that he could bypass the contest.

But Mullins said today: 'He will run. I am happy enough with him at the moment so we are hoping for the best.

'He worked badly during the week but he has eaten up all week and we can`t find anything wrong with him.'

He hoped that, 'with a bit of luck', Florida Pearl might gain revenge for his head defeat in last year`s race.

Native Upmanship was second, beaten a length by Micko`s Dream, at Navan on his reappearance.

Rince Ri won the Ericcson Chase for the second year running on his only outing last season but was fourth at Naas on his seasonal bow.