Punchestown preview: Kurasso Blue can build on promising chasing debut

PROMISING EFFORT: Kurasso Blue (right) chases home Eagle Fang at Thurles last month. Picture: Healy Racing

Kurasso Blue gained some valuable chasing experience less than three weeks ago in Thurles and he can use that to get off the mark over fences in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners’ Chase, which is the second race on this afternoon’s card in Punchestown.

Gordon Elliott’s horse, who won a hurdle in his native France before joining his current trainer, ran with promise in a competitive race on his first outing in Ireland, and duly built on that to win at the second time of asking.

For now, at least, that was the end of his hurdling career, and the imposing sort returned this season with his focus on the larger obstacles. While he was beaten favourite on his first start, he finished runner-up to a horse, Eagle Fang, who reached a mark in the 140s over hurdles.

The benefit of the run should be in evidence now and his form in France suggests the softer ground will be no issue to the four-year-old. His trainer could hardly have his team in better order, and this fellow can help to continue that rich vein of form.

Wille Mullins runs four and any of the quarter could be involved. Paul Townend is going with Ballygunner Castle, who certainly showed glimpses of real promise last season but came up short in graded company. From the family of Yorkhill, he could be a better chaser than he was a hurdler and, thus, is respected.

The feature on the card is the listed Matchbook 50:50 Graduation Series Mares’ Novice Hurdle, and the early market struggled to separate Chosen Comrade, Echoing Silence, and Switch From Diesel. The early money was for the first-named, who has won a point, a bumper and a maiden hurdle, and puts that unbeaten record on the line this afternoon.

Peter Fahey’s mare has obvious claims but there was an unmistakable quality to the winning performance of Echoing Silence when she strolled to victory on her return, in Cork, and she is marginally preferred.

While the form took a small bit of a knock on Sunday, she was in a league of her own and that run was a huge step forward on what she achieved last season, when expectations were high for the £410,000 purchase. She now looks ready to realise her potential and can follow up today.

Switch From Diesel was a useful sort in bumpers and while she was beaten in a maiden hurdle on her recent jumping debut, that was a ridiculously slowly run affair and thus the defeat is easily forgiven. The obvious drawback with her is that she spent so much time in bumpers. The ability is there but can she show the same level over hurdles as she did when runner-up in the Champion Bumper at Punchestown?

PUNCHESTOWN 

Selections 

11:50 Pure Steel 

12:20 Kurasso Blue (Nap) 

12:50 Fillyoureye 

1:20 Echoing Silence (NB) 

1:50 Espresso Milan 

2:20 Charlus 

2:50 Cosmo Renfro 

3:23 Lough Nigara 

Next best 

11:50 Its Bilbo 

12:20 Ballygunner Castle 

12:50 American Jukebox 

1:20 Switch From Diesel 

1:50 Newbrook Diamond 

2:20 Plontier 

2:50 Sarah’s Express 

3:23 Volez Vous