THE distance of the race is perhaps the most intriguing aspect of today's clash between the Gold Cup winner Imperial Call and the Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Klairon Davis in the Grade One £35,000 MMI Stockbrokers Punchestown Chase.
The two and a half mile trip is half a mile short of Imperial Call's optimum and four furlongs beyond Klairon Davis's very best. Well, that should be as fair to the duo as their respective ratings of 171 and 170. It might be of some significance that Imperial Call had the speed to beat Strong Platinum in a two and a quarter mile chase at Leopardstown in January when the favourite, Klairon Davis unseated his rider at the fourth, his second successive tumble.
Another fascinating factor is that Klairon Davis has had the benefit of a recent run whereas his rival has not been seen since his triumph in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last March when he trounced the subsequent Grand National winner Rough Quest. But I am assured that Imperial Call is in top form, raring to get back into action. He runs well when fresh as witnessed by his success at Clonmel on his seasonal debut 13 months ago.
By the same token, Klairon Davis won at Tipperary on his reappearance after a six month sojourn, and beating Merry Gale at levels by six lengths. He will certainly be the better for his most recent outing at Leopardstown where he failed by only half a length to give a stone and a half to Fiftysevenchannels.
The duo met in last year's corresponding race, but Imperial Call fell at the first fence and Klairon Davis at the fifth. The race was won impressively by Merry Gale, who renews rivalry today. Unfortunately Merry Gale, who was subsequently injured in Kempton's King George VI Chase, has shown no sign of returning to his best in both of his races this season and is currently rated almost a stone below the big two who, incidentally, improved greatly between November of last year and Cheltenham in March, more spectacularly so in the case if Imperial Call. Nevertheless, Merry Gale invariably puts his best foot forward over this course.
Royal Mountbrowne would receive a great deal of weight if this were a handicap. Hopefully, the race will prove a riveting spectacle, but I would be loath to have a bet. A selection must be made, and I believe Imperial Call will just prove the better in what could be the last meeting of the big two.
The rest of the card pales in comparison. The age old Conyngham Cup may go to Heist. When runner up to Lord Singapore in Navan's Troytown Chase he finished a long way ahead of Second Schedual and Fissure Seal - whom I expect to perform better on this occasion.
The selection's stable companion, Embellished appears to have as good a chance as compatriot Mystical City in today's William Hill Hurdle at Sandown - if good enough to beat Teinein. Remember, Noel Meade's charge was unlucky in the Triumph Hurdle. Sound Man should land the odds in his bid to win the Tingle Creek Chase for the second year running.
Mystical City's stable companion Casey Jane, a good stayer, can complete a hat trick in the Andrew Nolan Auctioneers Handicap Hurdle and Charlie Swan may land a double with Rescue Time in the MMI Stockbrokers Hurdle and Rachel's Swallow in the Londis Manor Inn Naas Hurdle.
Looking forward to tomorrow at Clonmel, Arthur Moore has charge of a promising novice chaser in the grey Jeffell who made all the running to win first time of asking over fences at Punchestown. Man Of Arran, the 15 length winner of a 16 runner beginner chase at Thurles and The Subbie, trounced by Dorans Pride at Punchestown but earlier successful over the same course, make matters interesting in the Waterford Crystal Novice Chase. Jeffell may have Man Of Arran to fear.
Sir John and Royal Rosy may complete a double for Aidan O'Brien, and Corymandel is chosen to win the Merck Sharp & Dohme Handicap Chase.
. The Turf Club has elected Professor Michael MacCormac as its new Senior Steward. He will take over from Michael Osborne next April. MacCormac is a former dean of the faculty of commerce at UCD and produced an influential economic analysis of the bloodstock industry in 1977.
The new Deputy Chief Steward will be Gerry Scanlan, who is the chairman of the finance committee of the Turf Club. He is a former chief executive of Allied Irish Banks.
