16:30 Fairyhouse

Sunday 1 April 2018

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5516:3017:05

Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 5m 35.90s

Al Boum Photo¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153| CD

11/2

Navan (2m1f, soft-to-heavy) beginners chase winner in November and placed in a Leopardstown Grade 1 contest subsequently. Looked held when falling late on Cheltenham last time and this drop in trip should hold no issues.

Form: 15-1F2F

Invitation Only¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| D

5/1

Dual chase winner and still going well when slipping on landing and losing all chance in a race won by Shattered Love at Cheltenham last time out. One to note in this contest.

Form: 6-F113P

Montalbano^h⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144| BF| D

33/1

Off the mark at the third time of asking over fences at Gowran Park (2m, heavy) in January. Still held chances when unseating in a Listed event subsequently and stepping up markedly in grade today.

Form: 31-FU1U

Saturnas⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144| C

14/1

Grade 1 winner over hurdles as a novice last season and justified odds-on favouritism in a beginners chase at Fairyhouse (2m1f, soft) in January. Interesting to see how he fares stepping up in grade.

Form: 1210-21

The Storyteller¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 155| C| D

5/1

Finished third behind Invitation Only in a Grade 3 at Punchestown (2m4f, soft-to-heavy) in January but made a winning handicap debut when taking a competitive race at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft) last time out. Interesting back in novice company.

Form: 1-21371

Tombstone⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| C| D

25/1

Twice a winner over fences including in a Grade 3 event at Navan (2m1f, soft) in December. Had Al Boum Photo in front of him when sixth at Leopardstown in February and finished well beaten at Thurles recently.

Form: 121263

Tycoon Prince^t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: G Elliott| OR: 143| C

50/1

Failed to complete in two starts since winning a beginners chase at Leopardstown (2m1f, yielding) in December. Likely needs to improve if he's to register a second chase success today.

Form: 45-21FP

Up For Review²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| CD

8/1

Improved on chase debut when winning a beginners event at Gowran Park (2m4f, heavy) last month. Ground and trip to suit stepping up in trip.

Form: 14P1/21

Shattered Love^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 153| C| D

13/8

Winner of nine of her 15 starts including Grade 1 novice chases the last twice. Impressive winner over this trip at Cheltenham (soft) last month and looks the one to beat for a leading stable today.

Form: 112111

Forecasts

Shattered Love (13/8), Invitation Only (5/1), The Storyteller (5/1), Al Boum Photo (11/2), Up For Review (8/1), Saturnas (14/1), Tombstone (25/1), Montalbano (33/1), Tycoon Prince (50/1)

SHATTERED LOVE can register her third consecutive Grade 1 victory by taking this prestigious contest. The selection has the ground and trip to suit today and she can get the better of Invitation Only who had some useful novice form prior to his pulled up effort last time out. Al Boum Photo drops back in trip having fallen last time out but a repeat of his previous second at Leopardstown can see him claim third,.