Big Names Line Up to Challenge Djakadam in Durkan Hat Trick Bid
Grade 1 action returns to Punchestown on December 10th with a strong field of 24 entries received for the John Durkan Memorial Chase including two-time winner Djakadam and Gold Cup hero Sizing John.
Champion trainer Willie Mullins is set to have a strong hand in the race with Douvan, Min and Un De Sceaux also among the early entries.
Mullins said this morning; “At this stage I would think that Djakadam would be favourite to go for the John Durkan but we have lots of options and I will take a look closer to the time because that is a busy weekend. We’ll certainly leave them all in at this stage and I’d hope to have more than one runner in the race.”
Among the other inclusions from the Mullins team are Douvan, Min, Un De Sceaux and Yorkhill.
Gigginstown House Stud, who won the race with Don Cossack in 2014, also hold a strong hand at the entry stage with Grade 1 winner Disko possibly returning to the scene of his finest hour for Noel Meade.
The Growise Champion Novice Chase winner at the Punchestown Festival in April is one of nine horses owned by Gigginstown in the race and Noel Meade said; “Disko is good shape and there’s nothing decided yet until I talk to Michael and Eddie (O’Leary) but the John Durkan is certainly a race that we’d be considering for him. The handicapper rates him level with Outlander at the moment and Disko has won two Grade 1’s so we are looking forward to his next run.”
Recent Clonmel Oil Chase winner Alpha Des Obeaux is another Gigginstown runner in the mix for the Grade 1 contest along with Galway Plate winner Balko Des Flos.
2016 Punchestown Gold Cup winner Carlingford Lough is another possible runner, while Kerry Lee’s Top Gamble and the Malcolm Jefferson’s rapidly improving six-year-old Waiting Patiently are the two British-trained entries.
2017 John Durkan Memorial Chase Entries
A Toi Phil – G. Elliott
Alpha Des Obeaux – MF. Morris
Apache Stronghold – N. Meade
Balko Des Flos – H. de Bromhead
Ball D’Arc – G. Elliott
Bally Casey – WP. Mullins
Carlingford Lough – JE. Kiley
Champagne West H. de Bromhead
Clarcam – G. Elliott
Disko – N. Meade
Djakadam – WP. Mullins
Douvan – WP. Mullins
Min – WP. Mullins
Outlander – G. Elliott
Shaneshill – WP Mullins
Sizing John – Mrs. J. Harrington
Sub Lieutenant – H. de Bromhead
Top Gamble – K. Lee (GB)
Un De Sceaux – WP. Mullins
Valseur Lido – H. de Bromhead
Waiting Patiently – M. Jefferson (GB)
Yorkhill – WP. Mullins
Zabana – A. Lynch
Vroum Vroum Mag – WP. Mullins
(24 entries)
The Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase is the feature race at Punchestown on Sunday 10th December. For further information please visit www.punchestown.com