RACING: PUNCHESTOWN PREVIEW:IT MIGHT be 48 hours late but it's very much a case of better late than never for today's John Durkan Memorial Chase which remains an ideal opportunity for Sam Thomas to get a much-needed Grade One confidence boost.
No problems are expected by the Punchestown authorities ahead of this afternoon's fixture which had to be cancelled on Sunday due to frost. There is also the boost for customers of free admission to the track.
The focus, however, is still likely to remain on Thomas after a character-testing week for the 24-year-old Welsh jockey ended with Master Minded's duly expected Tingle Creek Chase romp under Tony McCoy on Saturday. Whatever the rights and wrongs of Thomas's demotion, and he is surely entitled to feel plenty wronged, he does get a top chance today from trainer Paul Nicholls in the continued absence of Ruby Walsh.
The combination of testing ground and two and a half miles is pretty much ideal for Noland, who romped away from Finger Onthe Pulse at Down Royal last October, but the same can hardly be said for his main rival War Of Attrition.
The 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero has been beaten twice in this race in the past when conditions were similar but he remains a formidable talent based on his two comeback races so far this season.
Calling a Durkan and Hennessy winner like The Listener an unknown quantity going into this race might seem strange but this will be something of a fact-finding mission for the grey after a lack-lustre effort at Down Royal behind Kauto Star. Nothing was found to explain that run but, at his best, The Listener would be a danger to all. Whether even at his best he would be able to cope with Noland in these circumstances is much more debatable.
Racing opens at 12.35 with a maiden hurdle that won't see any 20 to 1 odds about Edward O'Grady's jumping newcomer Cockleshell Road. Those were his odds when he won his bumper this time last year and he was hardly disgraced subsequently by a 10th placing in the Cheltenham bumper behind Cousin Vinny.
Conem should appreciate a step up in trip in the handicap chase after his dramatic overhaul of Savitha at Fairyhouse last time while Horner Woods can improve significantly on his steeplechase debut behind Aran Concerto.
