14:55 Leopardstown

Saturday 3 February 2018

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:40

Coral Sandyford Handicap Chase (Rated 0-150) (Grade B)

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 4m 16.6s

Don't Touch It²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 149| C

28/1

Not seen at his best this term and faces a stiff task here from the top of the weights. This usually goes to a younger horse and better options may be available.

Form: 221-546

Hurricane Ben^t¹¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: R M Power| T: J G Sheehan| OR: 145| D

33/1

Winner in similar company at Fairyhouse in 2017 , but off the track since pulling up in October and probably high enough in the weights for now.

Form: 24214-P

Tell Us More^b³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 145

33/1

Highly tried in three starts since a Naas victory in 2016. This more realistic but hard to fancy on what he has shown lately.

Form: 2/410-95

Townshend^t1²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| D

16/1

Has failed to live up to expectations since his summer victories in novice company. Held before unseating when fancied last time, but possible he could bounce back with a tongue-tie now fitted.

Form: F-1145U

Mallowney²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Cooper| T: T Doyle| OR: 144| D

33/1

Grade 2 winner in February 2015, but two runs back from a lengthy break leave him short of what will be required here.

Form: 1245/55

Tully East⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: D F O'Regan| T: A Fleming| OR: 144

7/1

Landed some nice bets when winning the novices' handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Current mark has looked beyond him and he may want further on better ground.

Form: 621P-46

Conrad Hastings¹²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 143

16/1

Looked on the right path since tackling fences and ground was to blame for a below-par effort last time. Conditions may be again too testing and his best form has come over further.

Form: 50-1125

Some Plan^t⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 143| CD

12/1

Useful sort on his day and good effort last time despite over-racing in the early stages. That can be a problem for him in bigger fields and others are preferred here as a result.

Form: 166-483

Ted Veale³⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: A J Martin| OR: 140| C| D

33/1

Likeable servant to connections on Flat and over hurdles and is the elder statesman at ten-years-old in this field. This event normally goes to something with less mileage and so passed over as a result.

Form: 60-1200

Nearly Nama'd^t⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Dempsey| T: A Leahy| OR: 139| D

20/1

Form had gone into decline before bouncing back at Fairyhouse. Took advantage of a plunging mark that day and a 10lb rise still makes him competitive.

Form: 26-8041

Kilcarry Bridge^t²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: J P Ryan| OR: 137

20/1

Lost his way after chasing home Road To Respect over 3m in a Grade 3, but bounced back over this trip last time and commands respect despite his advancing years.

Form: 312602

Three Stars^p1³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Slevin| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 137| D

25/1

Dismal effort last time and trainer now applies cheekpieces. Stable are not exactly firing and have others in this with stronger claims.

Form: P5-3550

Squouateur^t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 135| BF| C

11/2

Has shown enough to suggest there is a decent prize to be won with him once he sorts out his jumping. Hit a flat spot on last run at this trip and an extra half-mile would not go amiss.

Form: 8P2U-63

Bel Ami De Sivola³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 130

7/1

Looks held by Nearly Nama'd on Fairyhouse form, but has improved to go down narrowly here since. Only lightly raced and, as a progressive young chaser, matches the profile of previous winners.

Form: 235342

Dysios^t²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: R Loughran| T: D Cullen| OR: 130| CD

25/1

Goes well around here and produced one of his better chasing at performances last time. More needed but could easily find it.

Form: 7-31093

Blast Of Koeman^t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 125| BF

8/1

Making up into a far better chaser than hurdler and has looked a natural in each run so far. Potentially well-handicapped but he is considered better going right-handed.

Form: 12-5413

Patricks Park³³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 123| BF

6/1

Failed to run to market expectations on stable debut over hurdles on New Year's Day. Any improvement the Mullins team can find would make him a contender from such a workable mark.

Form: 7-18416

That's A Wrap⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: M A Enright| T: T Mullins| OR: 123| C

12/1

Improved on previous performances over fences last time and well-handicapped in comparison to his hurdling exploits. No surprise to find this has been a target and market support would be significant.

Form: 27-48B3

Kilfenora⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: N P Madden| T: E P Harty| OR: 121| D

8/1

Showed much improved form last time for the switch to handicap company and potentially remains well treated judged on his hurdling form. Needs testing ground and likely to play a leading role off a featherweight.

Form: 4-F5673

Presenting Mahler³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: C A Landers⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 121| D

50/1

Looks held by many of these on recent form and hard to see where the necessary improvement may come from.

Form: 569300

Forecasts

Squouateur (11/2), Patricks Park (6/1), Tully East (7/1), Bel Ami De Sivola (7/1), Blast Of Koeman (8/1), Kilfenora (8/1), Some Plan (12/1), That's A Wrap (12/1), Townshend (16/1), Conrad Hastings (16/1), Kilcarry Bridge (20/1), Nearly Nama'd (20/1), Three Stars (25/1), Dysios (25/1), Don't Touch It (28/1), Ted Veale (33/1), Tell Us More (33/1), Mallowney (33/1), Hurricane Ben (33/1), Presenting Mahler (50/1)

KILFENORA and That's A Wrap are at the right end of the weights and appear to be peaking at the right time. Both have the credentials of recent winners in that they are improving young chasers. KILFENORA achieved more last time and, like That's A Wrap, is on a good mark in comparison to his hurdling exploits. Patrick's Park and Townshend are feared for the Mullins team, whilst Conrad Hastings looks the pick of the de Bromhead runners. Bel Ami De Sivola is another progressive type with the right age profile, whilst Dysios is a course specialist who may have been brought along with this race in mind. Blast Of Koeman has been touted for this event and so warrants respect, despite being considered better going right-handed.