Kempes returns over hurdles Kempes is set to warm up for a crack at the John Durkan Memorial Chase with a run over the smaller obstacles at Cork tomorrow. Last season's Hennessy Gold Cup winner at Leopardstown will have a sharpener in the Follow Us On Facebook Hurdle over two miles as long as the meeting passes an inspection this afternoon. The big Grade 1 back over fences at Punchestown on December 11 will then be the next target for the Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old, who was pulled up in his final two starts last term. "It's a nice race for him to run in and hopefully he can go on from there to the John Durkan," said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus. "Willie is very happy with him, so we'll see how he gets on. The race should leave him in good shape for the races coming up later on."
