Ireland today

racing is scheduled at Punchestown and Clonmel, but the former fixture is in doubt because of frost. If racing goes ahead, Punchestown will stage easily the best race of the day, the John Durkan Memorial, a Grade One steeplechase over 2 1/2 miles at 15.05 CET. Ex-Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War of Attrition (Mouse Morris/ Davy Russell) is the star attraction here, having won both his starts since his comeback in good style. However he meets some tough opposition here, including the two British raiders Noland (Paul Nicholls/ Dam Thomas) and The Listener (Nick Mitchell/ Daryl Jacob). The listed novice hurdle at 14.05 is another good race, and Table Talk (Tom Taaffe/ Barry Geraghty), brother to another Gold Cup winner Kicking King, is the interesting runner here, making his hurdles debut at a high level after easily winning his only bumper. The racing at Clonmel is much lower grade; ex-German Le Marquis (Tony Martin/M.J.Ferris) reappears here after a long absence, but the trip of the beginners chase at 15.15 of only 2 miles is possibly too short for him.

Betting forecast:
1.Race: Persian City - Cockleshell Road - Steve Capall
2.Race: Go Native - The Last Derby - Mullicagh Lass
3.Race: Imaalhall - Got The Urge - Mantell Gail
4.Race: Noland - War Of Attrition - The Listener
5.Race: Conem - Bluesea Cracker - Lukie Victor
6.Race: Deutschland - Pesoto - Bellflower Boy
7.Race: Bobs Display - Perfectly Composed - Keats Dream