2023 John Durkan Memorial Chase Tips - Will Galopin be the Champ at Punchestown again?

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: 24 Nov 2023

Jon Vine 24 Nov 2023

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Odds and predictions for the 2023 John Durkan Memorial Chase
This Grade One takes place at Punchestown on Sunday 26th November
We're backing Blue Lord to spring a surprise

Expired

Paul Townend riding Galopin Des Champs win The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase. (Getty)

Following on from the Morgiana Hurdle on Saturday, Sunday's attendees at Punchestown will enjoy a second Grade One, the John Durkan Memorial Chase. This two-and-a-half mile chase has been won by many of Ireland's top chasers and the reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup winner will make his reappearance this weekend.

Here's our free guide to the 2023 John Durkan Memorial Chase, including our best betting tips.

2023 John Durkan Memorial Chase Odds

You can find the full betting for the 2023 John Durkan Memorial Chase here on our website...

2023 John Durkan Memorial Chase Tips - Blue Lord

Galopin Des Champs was ultra-impressive in winning this race 12 months ago, and went on to produce similarly superb displays in both the Irish Gold Cup and at Cheltenham. Willie Mullins' star was then beaten by Fastorslow at Punchestown and, from what I could see, there were no real excuses for that defeat.

Bravemansgame outjumped Galopin Des Champs at most of the obstacles. Fastorslow came off the bridle fairly early, but found tons for pressure, taking up the lead jumping the last and all Paul Townend's mount could do was stay on beyond the tiring Bravemansgame to take second place.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is notorious for bottoming out horses and it's possible that the race has left its mark on Galopin Des Champs. Fastorslow renews rivalries with the market leader, but he took his form to a new level when stepped up beyond two-and-a-half miles and Martin Brassil's star looked sluggish on his reappearance in this race 12 months ago.

Appreciate It has never impressed me as a chaser. Asterion Forlonge is too erratic to be trusted and Stattler would be better over four-and-a-half miles. BLUE LORD (9/1) could be well suited by the conditions on Sunday and I could see Mullins' second string running a mighty race.

Blue Lord boasts a perfect reappearance record, having won first time out in each of the last three seasons. Daryll Jacob's mount won the Grade One Novices' Chase here at the Festival in 2022 and wasn't beaten far behind Energumene - who massively underperformed - on his most recent run in the Punchestown Champion Chase.

Mullins' eight-year-old was well-beaten in the Ryanair, but the track at Cheltenham doesn't seem to suit. Blue Lord did see off a former King George winner in Tornado Flyer to make a winning return in the Clonmel Oil Chase 12 months ago, so you can't argue that he doesn't have the stamina for this extended trip.

Live Stream

If you plan on watching any of Sunday's races from Punchestown live on a mobile device, then check out our John Durkan Memorial Chase Live Stream page.

Verdict

2023 John Durkan Chase

Blue Lord tends to do his best work at the start of each season and two-and-a-half miles around Punchestown could be ideal. It's a risk, but I think he's worth chancing against the market leaders.

Blue Lord

2023 John Durkan Tips

@9/1 - 10 Units

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