PUNCHESTOWN NEWS:WAR OF ATTRITION is set to head the home defence of Sunday's Grade One John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown against a strong cross-channel challenge that includes last year's winner The Listener, writes BRIAN O'CONNOR
Mouse Morris confirmed yesterday he intends to run War Of Attrition in the race which is also a definite target for The Listener who could be joined by the Paul Nicholls-trained Noland.
He won at Down Royal in October when beating Finger Onthe Pulse by a dozen lengths and the Punchestown authorities reckoned yesterday it is "60-40" in favour of Nicholls sending Noland across the Irish Sea for a second time this season.
"I believe they are waiting on ground and what frost there might be but we are looking fairly good," said the Punchestown manager Richie Galway yesterday.
"We are currently soft with soft to heavy patches and I don't envisage too much change by Sunday. We could get up to 10mms of rain on Wednesday night but there will be little substantial rainfall after that. They will also be racing on fresh ground which should take it better than poached going and there should be no problem with frost," he added.
The going will be less than ideal for War Of Attrition but Mouse Morris said yesterday: "The plan is to run on Sunday. I expect it will be tacky but he has been ticking over at home and it is so far so good."
The 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was runner-up to In Compliance in the Durkan two years ago, and fifth to Hi Cloy in 2005, but was an absentee when The Listener won easily 12 months ago.
The dour-staying grey disappointed behind Kauto Star in the Nicholson Chase at Down Royal and his trainer Nick Mitchell is hoping for better.
"He had a quiet week after Down Royal but we have been building him back up for this race. Daryl (Jacob) came down and schooled him this morning and all went well," he reported yesterday.
"Both Daryl and I feel he was just not himself the last day. He had all the tests after the race but we shall put it down to a bad day. The only positive is that he got a run under his belt," Mitchell added.
A total of 13 entries remain in the Durkan and they include other Grade One winners such as Conna Castle, Mansony, the Tingle Creek entry Schindlers Hunt and the former two-mile champion chaser Newmill.
Initial bookmaker reaction was to install Noland as favourite for the Durkan with Cashmans making him their 11 to 8 market leader. War Of Attrition is rated next best at 2 to 1.
One of the main support races on Sunday will be the Listed novice hurdle and among the 14 entries is the Willie Mullins-trained Mikael D'Haguerel who won impressively against older horses at Navan on his last start.
Zaarito provides some star quality to today's Fairyhouse card when he makes his jumping debut in the two-mile maiden hurdle and anything but an easy win will be a shock for a horse who is already among the favourites for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Unbeaten in three bumper starts up to Cheltenham last March, Zaarito was many people's idea of a banker for the Festival Bumper but could finish only third to Cousin Vinny.
He looked an unlucky loser though as he didn't get a clear passage through the race and had to do a lot just to get into a challenging position.
Matt O'Connor takes the ride today and Zaarito has reportedly schooled well ahead of his new career.
O'Connor will also fancy his chances in the handicap chase on board Topofthemornintou after that one's 10-length defeat of Dan George at Punchestown last month. A 12lb weights rise doesn't look enough to stop him.
Moskova chased home Cooldine at Thurles on her last start but faces no such quality in today's mares novice chase.
BETTING (Cashmans):11-8 Noland, 2 War Of Attrition, 6 The Listener, 8 Snowy Morning, 14 Watson Lake, 16 Sky's The Limit, 20 Bar.
