Poplar Square Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 12:32 | Winning time: 4m 0.70s

Footpad¹⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 166| D

4/9

Last season's Arkle winner carried all before him in five-race novice chasing campaign. Hugely impressive with his fencing last term, he readily dismissed Saint Calvados at Cheltenham in March. Impossible to forecast a defeat.

Form: 3/11111-

Saint Calvados²⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 158| D

5/2

Front-runner, won his first three chase starts as a novice last term impressively. Perhaps paid price for forcing strong pace in the Arkle and faded into remote fourth of five. Can close gap on Footpad, though unlikely to turn things around.

Form: 16/1114-

Arkwrisht^t²²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 137

33/1

Useful staying chaser but only one win in a dozen starts, off since fair sixth in the Irish National at Fairyhouse in April (3m5f, heavy). Not hard to imagine this is a stepping stone on reappearance.

Form: 2F4076-

Blue Empyrean^p⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: A Ring| T: R K Watson| OR: 116| CD

100/1

In good form at the turn of the year but his form had deteriorated by the spring and tailed off last week behind Snow Falcon at Down Royal (2m3½f, good to yielding) in Grade 2 on return. Up against it again.

Form: 113P-P6

Tycoon Prince^t¹⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 140| CD

16/1

Started off chasing career with some promise, winning 2m1f Leopardstown beginners' chase in December. No match for Footpad in Irish Arkle (fell) and pulled up/tailed off three starts thereafter. Stable won this last year.

Form: 21FP9P-

Forecasts

Footpad (4/9), Saint Calvados (5/2), Tycoon Prince (16/1), Arkwrisht (33/1), Blue Empyrean (100/1)

This won't appeal as a betting event to many, but it is a fascinating first glimpse at last season's outstanding 2m novice chase FOOTPAD. Big things will be expected this season and it would be a letdown should be fail to maintain his perfect record over fences. Saint Calvados likely suffered from the attentions of Petit Mouchoir in the Arkle at Cheltenham when last spotted and should be able to make the selection work harder this time. The others are tough to fancy, with Tycoon Prince perhaps best-placed to take advantage of any mishaps.