Punchestown confirms swift rearrangement of John Durkan card

Punchestown’s John Durkan Memorial Chase card has been rescheduled for Monday, December 19 after being cancelled on Sunday due to a frozen track.

The Grade 1 John Durkan is set to feature the seasonal return of current Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite, the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs.

His stablemate, Appreciate It, had also been entered to make his chasing debut in the fixture's beginners' chase, having not been seen since the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last March.

Plummeting temperatures and widespread frost across Ireland led to the cancellation of Sunday’s initial Punchestown card as well as a seven-race card at Navan on Saturday, with this week’s jumps fixtures also in doubt.

A snow- and frost-covered Punchestown had to cancel its Sunday cardCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Following discussions with the HRI fixtures committee and Met Éireann (Irish Met Office), organisers say they have full confidence that the card will be able to go ahead on Monday.

“The card has been rescheduled and we’re delighted to get the go ahead,” said Punchestown racing manager, Richie Galway. “It was really disappointing to have had to cancel it, but we appreciate everyone’s support in getting things back up and running. It’s brilliant that we’ll have the John Durkan Memorial Chase
and we’re hopeful of a great day.”

Galway said that a number of available dates were discussed, with organisers conscious of a congested Christmas fixture schedule looming large. He outlined that they’ve been given assurances that new date should go off without any issues.

“We had a look at a number of available dates and Monday was the best option,” he said. “There’s a forecast thaw over the weekend and rain. The Met Office have told us that we should be able to go ahead, and we have full confidence in that.”

Entries will close at midday on Wednesday, with declarations to follow at 10am on Saturday. The card will also feature a Listed mares' novice hurdle, as well as a rated novice hurdle and the William Hill Beginners Chase.

Read these next:

Racing goes ahead at Wolverhampton after passing third inspection

'The forecast looks challenging' - doubts over Ascot's Long Walk fixture

Which tracks are inspecting and how are things looking for the week?

Sign up here. Place 5 x £10 Sportsbook bets on any market at minimum odds of 2.0 (evens) and get money back as cash if it loses. Max refund per qualifying bet is £10 (up to £50 in total). Only deposits made via cards will be eligible for the promotion (Apple Pay excluded). T&Cs apply.