Stellar field of 11 stand their ground for Sunday's John Durkan - and David Jennings believes it's a race as good as any Gold Cup

The reigning winners of the Gold Cup, Grand National and Ryanair Chase are among a galaxy of stars due to clash in a spellbinding running of the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on Sunday (3.00).

Inothewayurthinkin, who beat dual winner Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup in March, will make his first start of the season against Aintree hero Nick Rockett and runaway Cheltenham Festival winner Fact To File. All 11 of the five-day entries have been declared. 

JP McManus's retained rider Mark Walsh will be aboard last year's winner Fact To File, meaning Keith Donoghue will be reunited with Inothewayurthinkin. The pair combined for the first half of last season, including when well beaten in this contest a year ago.

The favourite and four-time Grade 1 winner Gaelic Warrior will bid to enhance his credentials for the King George VI Chase on an important weekend in the build-up to the Boxing Day contest. 

Gaelic Warrior: is being targeted at Kempton's King George on Boxing DayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Paul Townend takes the ride on Rich and Susannah Ricci’s star, while Brian Hayes is on Grangeclare West and Sean O’Keeffe once again partners Brown Advisory winner Lecky Watson. Patrick Mullins will be reunited with his Aintree hero Nick Rockett for the first time since Aintree, while Danny Gilligan is booked for James Du Berlais and Derek O'Connor's services have been secured for last year's National victor I Am Maximus.

The 2023 winner Fastorslow will make his reappearance in the race after missing most of last season. JJ Slevin's Martin Brassil-trained mount's last three wins have come in Punchestown Grade 1s.

The stellar field is completed by Senecia and Heart Wood.

The John Durkan has proved a reliable guide to the big late-season contests in recent years, with Willie Mullins landing eight of the last ten runnings.

'It's not a trial for anything, it's the John Durkan and it's as good as any Gold Cup'

By David Jennings, Deputy Ireland editor

It's only November, I hear you scream. Don't get carried away. Calm down. 

Fair point, but here's another point. How often do the Gold Cup winner and the Ryanair winner run against each other? And when can you ever remember being able to back a Gold Cup winner at 11-1 on his very next start? When was the last time three horses rated 170 or higher ran against each other? In last season's Gold Cup there was only one horse rated higher than 168 and that was Galopin Des Champs. 

Here, you have 176 v 173 v 170. And, that doesn't even include previous winner of the race Fastorslow, who has won three Grade 1s at the track and has three victories over Galopin Des Champs on his CV. Or, the last two winners of the Grand National in Nick Rockett and I Am Maximus. Granted, both would love a lot further than this but they are still here and certainly add to the occasion. 

The up-and-coming Lecky Watson, who won last season's Brown Advisory, is in there too, and every now and again Grangeclare West pops up to remind us he is also a Grade 1 winner and rated 166. 

Fact To File: won a John Durkan epicCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

James Du Berlais and Senecia may be out of their depth but we have a field of 11 and this, you could almost guarantee, will be the only time these 11 horses line up alongside each other. Savour it. It won't happen again. 

Last year after watching Galopin Des Champs' brave effort from the front, when he was only collared late by Fact To File and Spillane's Tower, I met Ted Walsh on the way down from the grandstand and asked him: "Who'll win the Gold Cup after that, Ted?"

His reply will stay with me for the rest of my days. 

"I couldn't give a toss about who will win the Gold Cup. What are you on about?" Walsh argued. "That was as good as any Gold Cup. Why are you asking me about the Gold Cup? You should be asking me about the Durkan and a great race at Punchestown, not the bloody Gold Cup."

Ted was right, too. Last year's John Durkan was a superb race in its own right and this year's event is even better. Enjoy it for what it is. It's much too good to be considered a trial for anything.

John Durkan declarations

Fact To File Mark Walsh
Fastorslow JJ Slevin
Gaelic Warrior Paul Townend
Grangeclare West Brian Hayes
Heart Wood Darragh O'Keeffe
I Am Maximus TBC
Inothewayurthinkin Keith Donoghue
James Du Berlais TBC
Lecky Watson Sean O'Keeffe
Nick Rockett Patrick Mullins
Senecia Sean Flanagan

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