15:15 Fairyhouse

Monday 1 January 2018

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:45

Boylesports 500,000 Irish Grand National April 2nd Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 7m 4.7s

White Arm^p,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Mark Walsh| T: A J Martin| OR: 124| CD

4/1

Raised 6lb for a win in a Punchestown handicap chase last time out in December when coming from off the pace to land the spoils. Consistent and game sort who can go close again.

Form: 3212-U1

Fire In His Eyes^t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 120| C

10/1

Course winner who looks to have lost his way a little this term being well beaten on all three starts in November including two beginners chases. Place claims at best.

Form: 1P5-434

Swingbridge^p,t⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 118| BF| D

3/1

Popular veteran who landed a couple of chase's over the summer. Well beaten the last twice and doesn't seem to appreciate any cut in the ground.

Form: 111246

Georges Conn¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr E P O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 116

16/1

In good form in staying chases prior to pulling up on heavy ground on his last two starts at Punchestown and Thurles last time out. Tough ask and others preferred.

Form: 33-34PP

Toubaloo¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny Mullins| T: A Lee| OR: 116

12/1

One win from 13 chases in career but is solid and consistent in his finishing positions and his fourth of eight last month at Thurles could have him spot on for this.

Form: PS544-4

Une Lavandiere²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 116

10/1

Winner of one of her six career chase starts and has generally disappointed in two handicap chase starts recently. Will relish the ground though.

Form: P313F6

Clontarf^p,t³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Keith Donoghue| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 114| C

14/1

Won over 2m5f on chasing debut at Fairyhouse in January, but has not gone on from that. Looks to have something to find off current handicap mark.

Form: 816-PB4

Flynsini²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Slevin| T: P M Cloke| OR: 111| BF

4/1

Beaten favourite last time out when being held off in the closing stages by White Arm with the pair set to go head-to-head again. Could have a say in proceedings here.

Form: P21-612

Stoughan Cross^b1,t⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Moore| T: T Gibney| OR: 111

20/1

Pulled-up last time out at Limericks Christmas meeting on Wednesday following a 39L defeat here in November. Others hold stronger profiles.

Form: 416P-5P

Zekarya^p,t²⁶⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Burke| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 108

16/1

Had been off the course for the best part of two years before finishing third to Boher Call at Thurles in March before two subsequent heavy defeat. Best watched back from another break.

Form: 043/385-

Capture The Drama⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: Aengus King| OR: 104| CD

20/1

C&D winner winning this race last year but form has taken quite a knock since with a series of poor efforts. Looks a tall order to repeat last years win.

Form: 340007

A Hardy Nailer²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: R Tyner| OR: 102

8/1

Has produced two promising runs here in November and in winning Navan maiden hurdle last month. Requires a market check now returning to the larger obstacles.

Form: 6F4-421

Fergiethelegend^b²⁴⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 9-10| J: C D Meehan⁽⁵⁾| T: J G Carr| OR: 95| D

25/1

Not seen since being pulled-up at Punchestown in April following a series of below-par efforts at the start of the year. Looks to face a very stiff task, even if refinding his form.

Form: 7575PP-

Forecasts

Swingbridge (3/1), White Arm (4/1), Flynsini (4/1), A Hardy Nailer (8/1), Une Lavandiere (10/1), Fire In His Eyes (10/1), Toubaloo (12/1), Clontarf (14/1), Georges Conn (16/1), Zekarya (16/1), Capture The Drama (20/1), Stoughan Cross (20/1), Fergiethelegend (25/1)

Last year's winner of this race Capture The Drama will possibly try and make all here with A Hardy Nailer, Fire In His Eyes and Swingbridge chasing behind. The finish could be a repeat of the Punchestown handicap hurdle last month won by the holding-on White Arm in a pulsating battle with FLYNSINI a head behind, who is taken to reverse the placings here.