18:40 Punchestown

Wednesday 25 April 2018

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

Guinness Handicap Chase (Grade A)

Off time: 18:40 | Winning time: 5m 26.8s

Champagne West⁹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: N D Fehily| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 156| D

25/1

Thyestes winner in 2017 at Gowran Park but a string of sub-standard efforts since often characterised by jumping errors. Needs a big reversal in fortunes.

Form: 194-53P

Devils Bride^p,t¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 150| D

33/1

Useful individual on his day and still held chances when falling in the Galway Plate (good) last August. Well beaten in graded Aintree contests either side of a layoff.

Form: 32F500

Clarcam^p,t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 148| D

14/1

Grade 2 winner on soft-to-heavy ground at Navan in November, ran well to a point in the Topham at Aintree recently and races from 1lb lower mark now.

Form: 900-146

Woodland Opera^t⁹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 148| CD

7/1

Grade 2 scorer here over 2m in November, winner over this sort of trip at this meeting 12 months ago. Stable form (0-29) is something of a worry in what hasn't been a remarkable season for trainer.

Form: F33143

Lord Scoundrel^b,t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| CD

25/1

Galway Plate winner in 2016, hasn't got his head in front in nine runs since. Failed to complete in four starts recently including in the Irish National earlier this month. Drops right back in trip now.

Form: 0-8PPUP

Polidam^h¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| BF| D

12/1

Useful handicap chaser in France and was a winner over 2m4f at Navan (soft) in December. Not really gone on since but second start after a wind operation and isn't dismissed out of hand just yet.

Form: 37-1059

Viconte Du Noyer^t⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Burke| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 143

16/1

A classy performer when on song, particularly at Cheltenham (3m3f Bet Victor Chase winner in 2016). Ran very well here last year and well treated, but not in great shape this term with few signs the wind operation has worked.

Form: P2-70PP

Cold March^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: B J Cooper| T: H Whittington| OR: 142| D

33/1

Fair effort over hurdles at Taunton in January on first start for this handler but pulled up in 2m4f soft-ground Newbury handicap chase since. Runs from 5lb lower mark now but hard to envisage a win.

Form: 51P3-3P

Demi Sang⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: B J Geraghty| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144

12/1

French import won on debut for Willie Mullins at Naas (2m, soft) in January, then outclassed in Leopardstown Grade 1 novice. Pulled up in Cheltenham Festival handicap last month, there could still be more to come.

Form: 31114P

The Paparrazi Kid^t²³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Donagh Meyler| T: G Elliott| OR: 140| CD

25/1

Won a veterans chase at Wexford on St Patrick's Day 2017 for Willie Mullins, faller in the Irish National recently on first start for this yard having gone off a 50/1 poke. Career-best effort called for seemingly.

Form: 4/U1P5-F

Jetstream Jack^b,t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 138| D

20/1

Not the best jumper of a fence, falling twice in novice campaign including final start in valuable handicap here. Unconvincing in two starts this season, latest pulled up in Irish National and big ask now.

Form: F53F-0P

Goulane Chosen²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: S Spillane| OR: 137| D

16/1

Good winner of a handicap at Gowran Park (2m2f, heavy) last month off a mark of 130. Poor effort since over hurdles at Cork, could be capable of having a say here back over fences.

Form: 0-10216

Oscar Knight²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: T Mullins| OR: 136| CD

7/1

Winner over hurdles at Naas in November, brought down in the Irish National at Fairyhouse most recently. Doesn't have the form to suggest he'll land this prize down in trip.

Form: U-0102B

Shanahan's Turn^t¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 136| CD

9/2

Galway Plate winner in 2015 had been disappointing since prior to running a storm in the Topham Chase (2m5f, heavy) at Aintree this month on second start after a wind operation. Just 2lb higher now and of clear interest if reproducing that effort.

Form: 0/70-892

Patricks Park²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 133| BF

11/2

Impressive winner at Leopardstown (2m1f, soft) in February on just second outing for this trainer. Was well touted for that success, perhaps a bit unlucky in running since at Fairyhouse, goes back up in trip here and there should be more to come.

Form: 841615

Blast Of Koeman^p1,t⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 128

6/1

Winner over 2m at Fairyhouse on second chase start in November and finished in the money all three starts since at Leopardstown over 2m1f/2m5f. Cheekpieces added now and likely to give his running once again.

Form: 541343

Tout Est Permis⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: M F Morris| OR: 132

16/1

Winner of a beginners' chase at Gowran Park in September but not progressed since, looks up against it on these terms.

Form: 73F455

Newsworthy¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: J M Moore| T: Mrs D A Love| OR: 128| D

50/1

Winner of a beginners' chase at Tramore last summer, will be demanding a career-best effort now having unseated rider in the Topham Chase at Aintree this month.

Form: 51354U

Forecasts

Shanahan's Turn (9/2), Patricks Park (11/2), Blast Of Koeman (6/1), Oscar Knight (7/1), Woodland Opera (7/1), Polidam (12/1), Demi Sang (12/1), Clarcam (14/1), Viconte Du Noyer (16/1), Tout Est Permis (16/1), Goulane Chosen (16/1), Jetstream Jack (20/1), Champagne West (25/1), Lord Scoundrel (25/1), The Paparrazi Kid (25/1), Cold March (33/1), Devils Bride (33/1), Newsworthy (50/1)

Patricks Park was touted for a win at Leopardstown on his first chase outing for the Mullins yard and didn't disappoint. Things didn't pan out for him next time at Fairyhouse but he goes up in trip now and remains open to doing much better. Blast Of Koeman has been very consistent and can continue to be just that in new headgear while Shanahan's Turn will be a danger to all if reproducing his recent Aintree effort. GOULANE CHOSEN did things well under this rider at Gowran Park last month and isn't to be harshly judged on his hurdles run since. If he can get into a good rhythm he can play a role at a decent price.