ONCE again, the two-mile-six-furlong handicap chase run at Punchestown on John Durkan Chase day could be a race to note. Last year, the winner Grand Jesture, after disappointing in the Paddy Power Chase on his next run, ran a cracker on his subsequent run to finish second in the Ultima Solutions Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, while third-placed Foxrock finished second in the Paddy Power on his next run, then won the BoyleSports Handicap Chase back at Leopardstown in January, and followed up by running a cracker to finish a close-up second to Carlingford Lough in the Hennessy Gold Cup.

This year, like last year, the winner and the third could again be the two horses to take out of the race.