Approach can lead rivals a merry dance
Conditions are certain to be very testing and the selection, who won a bumper on soft ground at Thurles, looks well equipped to cope.
There is no doubt that since the Thurles success Dynamic Approach has been disappointing, but was back on song at Fairyhouse 18 days ago.
Going off an unconsidered 25-1 shot, he tried to make all of the running, but was no match in the closing stages for favourite, Texas Jack, and was beaten a flattering length and a quarter into second.
It was, nevertheless, an encouraging display by Eddie Hales’ charge and he is the one to beat, stepping up another two furlongs in trip.
The Gigginstown House Stud horses have made a cracking start to the campaign and Stonemaster can prove another for them in the Christmas Parties At Punchestown Beginners Chase.
He made a reasonable start over fences when beaten four and a half lengths by On The Way Out on this track and will strip fitter for the outing.
Biggest danger is surely another Gigginstown horse, Crash, who was only marking time over flights and this was always going to be his true vocation.
Adding lustre to the contest is the presence of Carrigeen Lechuga, a five-time winner in the point-to-point fields.
Make A Track, who will carry the Gigginstown colours for the first time, gets the vote in the Punchestown Event Centre Maiden Hurdle.
He landed two bumpers in England for David Arbuthnot, at Sandown (soft) and at Towcester, and his travels in the market will be all important.
Burn And Turn, so impressive when scoring by nine lengths at the Punchestown festival in May, gets the nod in the Mares’ bumper, ahead of easy Listowel winners, Missunited and Supreme Carolina.
