Punchestown Festival 2013 - Champion Novice Chase

6.40 Punchestown

Growise Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (5YO plus)

Winner €49,600

Advice: 1 pt win, 2 pts place Boston Bob (4/1 general, 4/5 Ladbrokes) 

Back In Focus: One of the leading Irish novice chasers of the season, fulfilling the promise he had shown for previous yard with three straight wins before Christmas, most notably 3m Grade 1 at Leopardstown which had looked lost cause (had previously beaten Lyreen Legend well here over 2m6f); With stablemate and rival today Boston Bob in RSA, he defied ground quicker than he’d have wanted to win National Hunt Chase from Tofino Bay but in serious trouble right up until the last furlong and lucky that his main rival idled; This a better, deeper race, but at the same time has his ground in no uncertain terms and will be hard to beat.

Boston Bob: Deeply workmanlike in two chasing runs before he went to Cheltenham, but crying out for 3m as he showed when collaring Lyreen Legend (reopposes), Lord Windermere, and Texas Jack in PJ Moriarty, and was set to win for many when falling at the last in RSA Chase at Festival (horses he beat at Leopardstown eventually won); That makes him the form horse here but one wonders if he wants such a testing surface (looked better than he ever has when rounding the turn in RSA) but still has a big chance here.

Dedigout: Patchy record since moving to fences but feeling is that he’ll never have conditions better for attempt at Grade 1 win; Left with far too much ground to make up at Fairyhouse twice over 2m6f, notably when unable to catch Realt More last time out, but this will suit better and must be given a chance; Well behind Back In Focus first time they met.

Harry Topper: Foot perfect until he fell at Kelso, winning impressively on three occasions including defeat of subsequent Jewson winner Benefficient at Newbury along with wide margin Exeter win, after which he bypassed Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals for this; Hailed by Kim Bailey as best horse he’s had since Gold Cup winner Master Oats and one of the main players here.

Lyreen Legend: Improved with every start over fences, no match for Back In Focus over 2m6f here in November when he had at one point looked in control but close-up fourth behind Boston Bob in 2m5f Grade 1 at Leopardstown in February and then a hard fighting second in RSA (was well into it coming the last); Should be on premises once again.

Mount Benbulben: Very talented when on song, but constantly hampered by jumping errors and nothing close to having fulfilled full potential yet despite several runs over fences; Not without the ability to take a hand if holding it all together but hardest race he’s run in and conditions today may be set to suit others better.

Tofino Bay: If one would take his half length second (where he was caught napping close to line) in National Hunt Chase into account, he’s overpriced on a line with favourite Back In Focus, for all that he had been 27 lengths in arrears on their previous meeting; Big claims on that form for all that his other form doesn’t quite match.

Argocat: Had been sneakily fancied by many for a big effort in Jewson following his impressive Grade 2 win at Limerick on Boxing Day but never sighted and others make more appeal despite similar performance after Cheltenham performance; Needs more and not convinced he wants this trip.

VERDICT: One of the most competitive races of the week with the best staying novice chasers of the season turning up with only RSA Chase winner Lord Windermere absent. BOSTON BOB had looked by far the most likely winner of that race before taking a hard fall at the last, and if able to show that form again here on a deeper surface (which shouldn’t trouble him unduly, although he’s looked better on a sounder surface on his last two runs), he’s the one to beat and can hold off Lyreen Legend. The choice of Ruby Walsh to go for stablemate and National Hunt Chase winner Back In Focus is understandable given the prevailing ground conditions and he should go well, although the feeling is that he’s going to have to put in a career best to win here with the likes of Deidgout and Harry Topper in opposition.