John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase Tips
War Of Attrition suffered a surprise reverse when outgunned by Beef Or Salmon in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal last time out, and I suspect that the seven-year-old will find one too good again on Sunday when dropping back to two and a half miles in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase. It's not so much the drop in distance that tempers enthusiasm where War Of Attrition is concerned; it's that he appears to be the type of horse that takes a good few races to recent concert pitch. Indeed, the evidence available suggests that Mouse Morris' stable star is at his best during the latter part of the season. After landing his first two starts last term, War Of Attrition was well beaten in this race before finding Beef Or Salmon far too good in the Lexus Chase. However, following a break of nearly three months, the gelding returned to action with a vengeance, landing the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival in March and the Irish equivalent a month later. The previous season was a similar story - he was at his best as the campaign progressed, culminating in him landing the Swordlestown Cup Novices Chase at Punchestown's Festival in April. Use Beef Or Salmon as a benchmark - he has beaten War Of Attrition twice in the winter, but never in the spring. There's no Beef Or Salmon about this time, but In Compliance rates a more than worthy adversary to War Of Attrition, and the progressive six-year-old is taken to come out on top, an outcome about which Paddy Power are offering odds of 5/2. Michael O'Brien holds In Compliance in the highest of regards and views the son of Old Vic as a genuine long-term Gold Cup contender, despite the fact his charge has yet to race beyond a trip of two miles and five furlongs. But, it has to be said, he has looked every inch a two-and-half-mile specialist from what we have seen so far. The way the selection jumped his fences and the fluency with which he travelled during the race when scoring over this trip on his seasonal reappearance at Down Royal last month strong suggested that a profitable campaign lies in wait. His cruising speed and potent turn of foot make him a difficult opponent and I can't see him being beaten on Sunday. Nickname and Justified are more than worthy of their places in the line-up, but they might burn each other off up front, setting the race up for both In Compliance and War Of Attrition. Last year's winner of this, Hi Cloy, would also be suited by such a scenario, but he looks to have place claims at best in a hot race. Verdict - 2pts In Compliance @ 5/2 (Paddy Power)