13:55 Leopardstown

Friday 29 December 2017

All12:2012:5013:2013:5514:3015:0515:35

Neville Hotels Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:56 | Winning time: 6m 20.3s

Bon Papa³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: W P Mullins

12/1

Thought good enough to run in the Grade 1's the Neptune at the Cheltenham festival and the Irish Daily Mirror novice hurdles - beaten out of sight on both occasions - before winning on seasonal debut last month. Already failed at this level.

Form: 1F1P8-1

Jury Duty⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: G Elliott

6/1

Has made steady progress since winning a Limerick 8k chase in October by landing the Grade 2 Florida Pearl chase at Punchestown last month. Another step up in class here but has place claims.

Form: 236-121

Monalee⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| D

1/1

Won a Punchestown beginners chase in good style pushing clear from the last to win easily. Big step up in class for just second chase start.

Form: 12124-1

Moulin A Vent¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| D

8/1

Won a beginners chase at the third attempt winning by 18L beating five rivals here earlier in the month. Could be capable of having his say.

Form: 27-1031

Rathvinden²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152

6/1

151-rated hurdler and winner of four of his eight chase starts. Second of five 3¼L behind Death Duty in the Grade 1 Drinmore novice chase at Fairyhouse earlier in the month. Still a novice at the age of nine is a worry.

Form: 113112

Thebarrowman⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R Loughran| T: A Keatley| D

66/1

Finished 16L behind Tombstone when left in second place on seasonal debut at Down Royal last month before another runner-up spot here later in the month. Looks vulnerable in this company.

Form: P850-22

Shattered Love^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 138| D

10/1

Finished second of five behind Jury Duty in the Grade 2 Florida Pearl novice chase last month before winning a Grade 1 mares' novice chase earlier in the month. Will need to improve again to land a blow here.

Form: 07-1121

Dinaria Des Obeaux^t²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott

9/1

Winner of two of her three chase starts this season and found the Grade 1 Drinmore novices chase a step too far last time out. Looks a tall order in this company.

Form: 045-114

Non-Runners

Mossback⁴⁸

Weight: 11-10| Age: 5

T: G Elliott J: Donagh Meyler

Forecasts

Monalee (1/1), Jury Duty (6/1), Rathvinden (6/1), Moulin A Vent (8/1), Dinaria Des Obeaux (9/1), Shattered Love (10/1), Bon Papa (12/1), Mossback (12/1), Thebarrowman (66/1)

Shattered Love and Thebarrowman are a pair who like to get on with things in the early stages of this Grade 1 contest with Monalee and Mossback chasing in behind. MONALEE won a Punchestown beginners chase in good style pushing clear from the last to win easily and can step up here in this company. Jury Duty, who may appreciate the step back up to 3m and the improver Bon Papa, who could be anything, can hit the frame.