Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Morgiana and John Durkan Day tips

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan is here to preview the weekend’s action from Punchestown, including the G1 Morgiana Hurdle and G1 John Durkan Chase.

Punchestown, Saturday

We kick Saturday off with the three-year-old hurdle (11:30am), in which I like Quinta Do Lago. He won an academy hurdle at Cork and escapes a penalty for that victory here due to the conditions of that race. The benefit of hurdling experience will stand him in good stead, and he has a very effective dual-purpose pedigree, being by Galiway out of a Motivator mare. Trainer Jessica Harrington has very few jumpers these days, but I think she can win the opener at Punchestown with Quinta Do Lago.

The beginners’ chase (12:32pm) looks a deep race and Kitzbuhel is the obvious place to start. He was a very smart hurdler, and with trainer Willie Mullins having won the last two renewals of this race with the likes of Ballyburn and Gaelic Warrior, I think he may well be unleashing yet another Grade 1 prospect over fences here.

The Grade 2 Florida Pearl Chase (1:05pm) is a proper staying contest. It’s been won by some real sloggers in the past, including Stellar Story and Grand National runner-up Vanillier. I think Rocky’s Diamond is a very promising horse. He ran a super race behind Bob Olinger in the Stayers’ Hurdle following his victory in the Galmoy Hurdle. He handles slow ground and I liked his chase debut at Galway, where he was just outbattled last time by Blizzard Of Oz at Wexford. I think he’s better than that, and aged just five, he’s still low mileage. With a rating of 150, he sets the standard for me.

In the handicap chase at 1:40pm, I am very sweet on Waterford Whispers’ chances. He was a 135-rated hurdler who finished second in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival two years ago. That form is yet to be translated over fences, where he has a five-pound lower mark of 130 – but I think he looks very well handicapped. Whilst he was a little disappointing at Galway last time, I’d expect improvement to come for that experience, and I think he will be hard to beat.

I don’t want to waste too much time on the G1 Morgiana Hurdle (2:10pm). It’s a disappointing renewal, and I think Lossiemouth will laugh at the boys. Connections starting her off over two miles is a real statement of intent, and this could be her year to win the Champion Hurdle.

Punchestown, Sunday

Onto Sunday’s action, where I’ll start with the maiden hurdle (12:13pm). Green Splendour was a very impressive winner of the Grade 2 bumper at the Aintree Festival back in April, and while he had disappointed at Leopardstown before that, I know connections have always hoped that this guy would develop into a smart horse. He’s been given favourable mentions in all the stable tours, and he should be hard to oppose.

The Listed mares’ hurdle (1:17pm) is not a strong race and it should be a straightforward assignment for Fun Fun Fun, who’s reverting back to hurdles, having had a successful chase campaign last year. She is rated much higher over fences, but I think reverting back to hurdles should be a successful decision here. She’s a keen filly, so the small field should suit and make Paul Townend’s life easier.

It’s fascinating to see Olympic Man in the Pertemps Network handicap hurdle (1:52pm) after having had a decent enough chase campaign. He was seventh in the Scottish National, pulled up in the Galway plate and he reverted back to the Flat last time at the career where he was an eye-catching fifth at the Curragh on heavy ground. I think this guy will be much more at home over hurdles because he’s a little bit awkward over fences.

The Craddockstown Novice Chase (2:27pm) is a race the Gordon Elliott has a particularly strong record in. He’s won four of the last five renewals and I think Relieved Of Duties might overturn the top horses here. His run behind Alnilam at Cheltenham last time was satisfactory, but I think on this rain-softened ground, he’ll be more at home. He was a winner over this distance at Fairyhouse in October, and I think he is better than what we saw last time. He may well be able to overcome his rating to topple the higher rated horses.

Now then, the John Durkan (3:00pm) looks like an absolute classic. The Ryanair Chase winner, the Gold Cup winner, the first three home from the Grand National, a former winner of the race in Fastorslow, and throw in Gaelic Warrior and Lecky Watson for good measure. It just is an utterly fabulous race. I think Fact To File is the obvious winner, given this is his ideal trip and he won it on his seasonal bow last year. He’s the obvious answer. So, I’m going to play an each-way selection and go for Nick Rockett. I think he was a very classy winner of the Grand National. He’s a slight horse, not terribly robust, so I don’t think he’d take an awful lot of getting ready. I could see him turning into a genuine Cheltenham Gold Cup contender later in the year. So, while it’s probably a long shot that a Grand National winner is going to have the class to beat Fact To File over two and a half miles, I could see him finishing in the money at an each-way price. Enjoy the John Durkan. It is a race to behold.