An all – Irish cast will face the starter in the Mongey Communications La Touche Cross Country, making up leg 10 of the Crystal Cup, this Thursday at Punchestown.
19 entries have distilled into 15 runners for this year’s unique 4 miler over the banks and ditches of Punchestown, headed by Coko Beach, already a winner over a shorter trip here in February as part of his preparation for a tilt at the Grand National, in which he finished a 33l 11th to I am Maximus. On his rating alone, Coko Beach has 10lb in hand on his nearest rival.
Coko Beach is one of two entries from Cullentra for Gordon Elliott, the other being The Bosses Oscar, whose sparing prep this spring has been a 6l second to Winged Leader in an open point-to-point at Castletown.
The Enda Bolger – J P McManus axis of power is never to be underestimated in this type of race, and Bolger has won it many times. Entry Stealthy Tom has not made the cut, but by contrast, his other candidate, Birchdale is a winner of a banks race over 3m here in November when beating Vital Island, and ran a close third, beaten 2l in a Listed chase at Leopardstown earlier this month.
Gavin Cromwell, whose forays to the UK have proved so successful this winter, has entered two. Stumptown, winner of a valuable handicap at Cheltenham on New year’s Day, was pulled up in the Ultima during the Festival, but has since returned to form with a 1 3/4l third in a handicap at Cheltenham in mid April.
He may also run Fameaftertheglory, whos is well held by Coko Beach on their running in the banks race at Punchestown in February, but whose best performance may have been a 5 1/2l third to Latenightpass in the December leg of the Crystal Cup at Cheltenham.
Peter Maher is no slouch with his cross country runners, and sent 2 to Pardubice last October. Neither runs here, but Subset is a winner over this course, having won a banks race at last year’s Punchestown Festival. His form since has been in and out, whilst Blast of Keoman is held on that same running from 2023, and also by Vital Island in this race two days later.
Richard O’Keefe has been a regular visitor to Crystal Cup races this winter, and returns to defend his La Touche record 12 months on, where he beat Stealthy Tom into second. He was running creditably at Craon before ripping off a shoe, and weakened two out in the December leg at Cheltenham where some highly rated horses made up the placings. His only two wins under Rules have been here at Punchestown, so he’s not easily ruled out.
De Nordener has been carrying all before him in open point-to-points, winning four this winter, but was no match for Winged Leader in an open at Quakerstown in late March. He has taken a softer option in the shorter Ladies Cup on Tuesday.
Of Cieran Murphy’s pair, Enjoy d’allen is held by Coko Beach on February form here over the banks, but got the better of Vital Island on their December form at Cheltenham. Second preference Michael’s Pick has something to find on The Bosses Oscar and Vital Island.
It’s difficult to make any case for Singing Banjo from Barry John Walsh. His best form was a second to Stealthy Tom in a banks race over 12 months ago, whilst Streets of Doyen has no cross country form, and Three By Two is held by several of the other entries. He ran on Tuesday, finishing a 7 1/4l fourth to Knockiel Synge in the 3 miler.
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