Forpadydeplasterer can’t be opposed

THE return to action of Forpadydeplasterer in the poorly-supported Star Chase will prove the focus of attention at Punchestown today.

The Tommy Cooper-trained nine-year-old has not been seen in public since being pulled up in the ‘King George’ at Kempton last Christmas and has not triumphed since proving too strong for Kalahari King up the Cheltenham hill in the ‘Arkle’ of 2009.

Injuries sustained at Kempton kept Forpadydeplasterer off the track for the remainder of last season. And his record of seven consecutive second placings since his ‘Arkle’ success doesn’t inspire too much confidence.