PUNCHESTOWN REPORT:KAUTO STAR and Denman may be the only Gold Cup show in town for most people but both Paul Nolan and Alain Cawley reckon Joncol could yet emerge from the wings to claim centre-stage next March after the giant chaser landed his first Grade One prize in yesterday's John Durkan Memorial at Punchestown.
Joncol was cut to 25 to 1 for Cheltenham following his resolute defeat of In Compliance and J'y Vole yesterday and Nolan believes the best is yet to come from the horse.
"He is only six and only growing into his frame now. He's a giant horse, 18hh, and has even grown a bit more since last season," the Co Wexford-based trainer said.
"We couldn't get a clear run with him as a novice but we have had him on a different programme this season, and a different diet because he had ulcers, and it has turned him inside out.
"He will go for the Lexus now and I am inclined to believe he is a Gold Cup horse after that today. I'm hoping he's not just a mudlark and he has done a good bit of work on nicer ground," Nolan added.
Whatever about his Gold Cup prospects, all bookmakers rate Joncol a serious contender for the Lexus at Leopardstown over Christmas with William Hill making him an 11 to 4 favourite to complete a Grade One double in December.
Yesterday's race was also a first top-flight success for Joncol's 22-year-old rider Alain Cawley, last year's champion claimer, and possessor of possibly the choicest Christian name in the Irish weighroom.
"It's pronounced Alan but my mother wanted something a little different and gave me the French spelling," the Co Galway native explained.
"I've had more hassle over it!"
Cawley's instructions from Nolan were to ensure a good gallop and after leading for part of the early stages, Joncol was joined by Aran Concerto until that one started making mistakes that culminated in a fall at the second last.
By then the 2006 Durkan winner, In Compliance, had turned into Joncol's main danger but Nolan's horse stayed on much the better in a style that suggests he will relish a return to three miles.
"For a chap who hasn't had much Grade One experience, I thought 'Squeaky' gave him a great ride," Nolan said, indicating how it isn't just Cawley's mother who believes in names with a difference.
Dessie Hughes had to settle for the runner-up in the feature but he quickly got back into the winner's enclosure after Lenabane fought back from a mistake at the second last to head Sam Adams on the line in the Beginners Chase.
Lenabane is a half-brother to the great two-mile champion Moscow Flyer and Hughes said: "He's a real three-mile chaser, not like his brother. He wouldn't have that speed. But he showed a bit of guts there to get back up, which I thought he might have lacked after last season."
Ruby Walsh had a frustrating afternoon over fences, getting unseated from Barker six out in the Durkan, and falling from Southern Vic in the handicap chase won by Tasman.
But the champion jockey was on the mark in the handicap hurdle as Colbert Station justified 3 to 1 favouritism for owner JP McManus and trainer Ted Walsh with a smooth defeat of Le Marquis.
Jessica Harrington completed a double with Hugo De Vindecy in the maiden hurdle and Saludos who relegated his shorter-priced stable companion Coole River to third in the novice hurdle.
"Robbie (Power) thought he was cooked on the turn-in but the horse picked up again," Harrington said of Saludos who was made a 33 to 1 shot for Cheltenham's Supreme by Boylesports.
"The other horse (Coole River) was all over the place on the very heavy ground and couldn't get into a rhythm."
Katie Walsh beat her great rival Nina Carberry into second in the bumper as Our Girl Salley ran out a convincing winner.
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