SLOG OF WAR

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Dec 7, 2008 | by RYAN McELLIGOTT

FORMER Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition continues on the comeback trail this afternoon in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.

The nine-year-old has won both his starts since returning to action here in October, but face a much bigger challenge today.

Over a trip that is probably short of his best, War Of Attrition has to deal with the likes of The Listener and Noland, who form a very strong English raiding party.

And he has been beaten in this race twice before.

But there are still grounds for believing that the Mouse Morris inmate can keep this prize at home.

On his first run back, over a slightly longer trip at this track, he easily defeated another Gold Cup winner in Kicking King.

At Thurles last time he looked to face a straightforward task on paper and won with the minimum of fuss.

Those races are far removed from the quality of today's contest but they served to prove that he was fit and well, that his jumping is still superb and - perhaps most importantly - that the old boy's enthusiasm for racing remains undimmed.

With several confirmed frontrunners in the line-up this race could turn into quite an endurance test, which would play to War Of Attrition's strengths.

This is possibly his toughest assignment since he won the Gold Cup in March 2006 - but to my eye he still looks equal to the task.

Perhaps his biggest danger could come from the Paul Nicholls- trained and Sam Thomas-ridden Noland.

Noland has already made one successful journey to Ireland this season, having landed a decent Grade 3 event at Down Royal five weeks ago.

Another former Cheltenham winner, the seven-year-old seemed well suited by the step to two-and-a-half miles last time.

He also looked as though he would improve considerably for that run, and it is possible that we have yet to see the best of him.

The Listener routed his rivals in this race last year when he came home 19 lengths clear of Mansony.

He has questions to answer following a rather lacklustre return behind Kauto Star, but that run was simply too bad to be true and he is easily forgiven a rare below-par effort.

Snowy Morning will have to do much better than he did at Clonmel last month but it would come as no surprise if he were to turn in a dramatically improved effort.

RYAN'S PICKS

CLONMEL

12.45 Man From The West

1.15 Ifyoucouldseemenow

1.45 Saddler's Native

2.15 Hurricane Carter

2.45 The Dashing Doctor

3.15 Leanne

3.45 Country Flora

PUNCHESTOWN

12.35Persian City

1.05 The Last Derby

1.35 Imaalhall

2.05 War Of Attrition

2.35 Bluesea Cracker

3.05 Joncol (NAP)

3.35 Bobs Display