Fakir in fine form ahead of John Durkan return Joseph O'Brien is looking forward to getting Fakir D'oudairies back in action in the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on Sunday. The four-time top level winner is one of eight horses left in the race after today's final forfeit stage. O'Brien's reports the Kapgarde gelding in fine form ahead of his seasonal debut and is hoping for further success with the seven-year-old, who was fourth in the race 12 months ago, this term. “I'm very pleased with how he has trained this year. He's taken a little bit longer to get fit than maybe he did last year. He's a year older so that's fine,” said O'Brien, in conversation with Dave Keena. “It looks like it's going to be a very hot race, it'll be exciting to be involved in a race like what the John Durkan is going to be this year. “He's been a fantastic horse for us, he's won a number of Grade 1s and been placed and run very well in a number of them. He's a star of the yard and hopefully he's not finished yet. “I think the pick of his form is all at two-and-a-half. I think he stays further and I think he can acquit himself well at shorter but I think two-and-a-half is a good distance for him.”
