18:40 Punchestown

Tuesday 24 April 2018

All15:4016:2016:5517:3018:0518:4019:15

Growise Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 18:40 | Winning time: 6m 42.0s

Al Boum Photo²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 157

11/2

Bounced back from a poor run at Cheltenham (beaten well fell) with a win at Fairyhouse in Grade 1 company earlier this month. Still signs his jumping needs to improve though and there's concerns over this trip (best form over 2m4f).

Form: 5-1F2F1

Dounikos²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 151| C

33/1

Made a promising start to life over fences but he was no match for Monalee at Leopards town in February and he's failed to finish in two subsequent starts. Hard to fancy at present.

Form: 9-114PP

Finian's Oscar^p¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 152

13/2

Two-time Grade 1 over hurdles but has enjoyed mixed fortunes over larger obstacles. Benefited from a strong pace when landing his first Grade 1 over fences earlier in the month Aintree but needs to jump better if he is to be a factor here.

Form: 132P51

Invitation Only²³

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

10/1

Fell on debut over fences before improved efforts when winning at Navan and Punchestown, the latter a Grade 3 contest. Found out to some extent at the top level but jumps well and has been running well in defeat; he has place claims again.

Form: F113P3

Jury Duty^t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 148| BF| C

16/1

Running well throughout the season with the highlight coming in Grade 2 company here in November. Sent off favourite when disappointing in the four-mile race at Cheltenham last month and while this looks a more suitable test, he needs a career best.

Form: 12122U

Monalee⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: N D Fehily| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 158| C

2/1

Got the better of Al Boum Photo at Leopardstown in Grade 1 company two starts back and while he was no match for Presenting Percy at Cheltenham last time, there's no shame in that and he beat the rest well enough. The one to beat here.

Form: 24-1F12

Monbeg Notorious^v²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 151| C| D

33/1

Completed a hat-trick when winning a Grade 2 at Navan. Probably didn't stay in the Irish National last time and he's unproven at this level but he's still relatively lightly raced and likely he's still in form. Place claims.

Form: 221118

Rathvinden⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 154| D

10/1

Winner of the four-miler at the Festival but only makes limited appeal dropped back in trip here. Has struggled at this level before and down the order on jockey bookings.

Form: 112BU1

The Storyteller²³

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

16/1

Won a competitive handicap in Grade 3 company at the Cheltenham Festival but has been well beaten either side of that run by many of these rivals when competing at a higher level. Must improve.

Form: 213715

Shattered Love^t²³

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

4/1

Has been in fine form throughout the season. Impressive when winning at the Festival and getting the better of a subsequent Grade 1 winner and shaped like a step up in trip should suit when beaten by Al Boum Photo last time. Should run well.

Form: 121112

Youcantcallherthat⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 143

33/1

Has won a couple of Graded races this year but remains to be seen whether she belongs at the top level. Needs to improve to make any sort of impression.

Form: 834111

Forecasts

Monalee (2/1), Shattered Love (4/1), Al Boum Photo (11/2), Finian's Oscar (13/2), Rathvinden (10/1), Invitation Only (10/1), The Storyteller (16/1), Jury Duty (16/1), Monbeg Notorious (33/1), Youcantcallherthat (33/1), Dounikos (33/1)

MONALEE brings a strong level of form to the season. While he was no match for Presenting Percy at the Festival, that rival has been placed at the head of the market for next year's Gold Cup at he lost little in defeat that day. Shattered Love warrants respect given she may improve now back up in trip while stablemate Monbeg Notorious was given an unsuitable test last time and may return in form here.