Punchestown Preview: Exciting Battleoverdoyen can stamp his authority

Battleoverdoyen always looked the type to excel over fences and he created an excellent impression on his chasing debut, winning with loads to spare at Galway. He was cut for the RSA Chase on the back of that success and will face a stern examination of his credential in the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase (14:50) at Punchestown on Sunday against the highly experienced, Cheltenham Festival-winning chaser Any Second Now.

Any Second Now had always threatened to win a decent prize and came good in style in the Kim Muir, staying on strongly to prevail by three and a quarter lengths. He sets a decent standard to aim at, but it would be disappointing were Battleoverdoyen not up to the task.

Battleoverdoyen won his point, a bumper, a maiden hurdle and the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle before failing to meet expectations when sent off favourite for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He is every inch a chaser on looks, however, and he made the perfect start over fences last month when trainer Gordon Elliott unleashed him in the same novice chase won by Don Cossack six years earlier.

"There will be loads of improvement in him."

Grade One-winning hurdler Battleoverdoyen makes perfect start to chasing career for the @gelliott_racing team at @Galway_Races >>>https://t.co/GqvubBCqFd pic.twitter.com/AfHl7ODzDM

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 28, 2019

There are a number of decent prospects in the seven-runner field, including Minella Fair and Sayo, but Battleoverdoyen is expected to prove too strong.

All eyes will be on Yanworth in the opening cross-country chase (12:05). Yanworth was a high-class hurdler at one point and was even sent off 2-1 favourite for the 2017 Champion Hurdle. He can boast two Grade 1 wins and five at Grade 2 level during his time with Alan King, but he ran poorly last season and has moved stable, with Enda Bolger tasked with rejuvenating the nine-year-old. He would be in a different league to these rivals at his peak, but there is a big question mark about how much ability he retains.

The listed mares’ hurdle (13:05) looks a competitive event, with Eglantine du Seuil – winner of the mares’ novices’ hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival – the headline act in a field of five. Her task is made difficult, however, by the 10 lb penalty she is saddled with and she may struggle to concede weight to Stormy Ireland, who also runs in the colours of Jared Sullivan for trainer Willie Mullins. Stormy Ireland was below her best at Auteuil last time but had been largely consistent, putting together a string of creditable efforts.