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SportsCasting

Andy Newton

Unmissable 2024 John Durkan Chase In Prospect

Galopin Des Champs Fastorslow Willie Mullins Gold Punchestown

Horse racing fans will be clearing their diaries this Sunday at 2:25 as the 2024 John Durkan Chase is all setting up to be a crackerjack of a renewal. Why? Well, it’s expected to see Irish staying chasing heavyweights Galopin Des Champs, Fastorslow and Fact To File do battle.

A Vintage John Durkan Chase Looks On The Cards At Punchestown On Sunday

Providing they all run, then this Sunday’s 2024 John Durkan Chase is a ‘must-see’ race for all National Hunt horse racing lovers.

This is because the 2m 3 1/2f contest at Punchestown is expected to see the return of the two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs, who won this race in 2022, back in action – plus at least two other ‘big guns’ of this division.

He could also take on his old rival in Fastorslow – the only horse that’s beaten him in recent years and the winner of the prize last year.

While the new kid on the staying chasing block – Fact To File – is also an intended runner, which will make for a fascinating renewal that will give us a few early season pointers for the Gold Cup in March.

At this stage the best horse racing betting sites in the UK have installed Fact To File in as the market leader for the John Durkan Chase.

Willie Mullins Has Won The John Durkan Chase NINE Times

Of the three main John Durkan runners, top Irish trainer Willie Mullins houses two – Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File – as the Closutton hander hunts his tenth win in the Punchestown Grade One on Sunday.

His very first John Durkan Chase winner came in 2001 with Florida Pearl. He also mopped up three in the spin with the classy Min – with, the already mentioned, Galopin Des Champs the last Willie Mullins winner in the race in 2022.

At this stage Mullins also has Grangeclare West, Blue Lord and Minella Cocooner entered in the race, plus Capodanno. However, the last-named is expected to run on Saturday’s Betfair Chase at Haydock after being supplemented for the race earlier in the week.

Willie Mullins John Durkan Chase Winners

Florida Pearl (2001)
Arvika Ligeonniere (2013)
Djakadam (2015, 2016)
Min (2018, 2019, 2020)
Allaho (2021)
Galopin Des Champs (2022)

Galopin Des Champs Had A Small Issue Last Month, Say Mullins

The winner of the last two Cheltenham Gold Cups – Galopin Des Champs – also won the 2022 John Durkan and will be looking to become the first horse since Native Upmanship, who won the race in 2000 and 2002, to regain his title.

His trainer Willie Mullins has reported that this race has been his target and that he’s in ‘good, old order’ now.

However, he also warned punters that his Cheltenham Festival hero did have a ‘small issue’ last month and as a result missed a few weeks of work.

Those looking to take on Galopin Des Champs might look to this missed work, plus the drop back to this shorter trip as negatives.

While, win, lose or draw for Galopin – you know his main season target again this term will be the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March as he looks to emulate Best Mate and the mighty Arkle by winning three on the bounce.

Fastorslow Landed The John Durkan Chase 12 Months Ago

The Martin Brassil-trained 8 year-old Fastorslow has been a thorn in the side of Galopin Des Champs over the last few seasons. Beating him into third in this race last season, plus seeing him off last time out in the Punchestown Gold Cup here in May (watch below).

In fact, he’ll be looking for a fourth win over Galopin having also beating him in the 2023 Punchestown Gold Cup. No other horse can say that.

Fastorslow also loves it here at Punchestown – his record at the County Kildare venue is second-to-none 2-2-5-1-1-1. Winning 50% of his six outings at the venue.

With his normal rider JJ Slevin injured, Fastorslow will be ridden by Derek O’Connor.

**Fact To File Taking On The ‘Big Boys’ For The First Time**

Aged a year younger than Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow is the new kid in the staying chasing division – Fact To File – at 7.

He’s another from the Willie Mullins yard too and after an impressive novice campaign last season is already second favourite for the Gold Cup in March with the best betting sites in the UK.

Having run second in the Cheltenham Bumper back in 2023, this JP McManus horse skipped a season hurdling and went straight over fences.

It was a great move by connections as this promising chaser won three times last season. With the last of those an impressive success in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival (watch below).

He’s up into Open company here for the first time, but it’s hard to fault his CV and Mullins has reported his rising star as in ‘great order and has summered well’.

Adding that he looks ‘ Gold Cup material to me’, with that Festival race is big target too. Providing all goes well in the John Durkan Chase on Sunday.