13:45 Cork

Sunday 9 December 2018

All12:0512:4013:1013:4514:1514:5015:20

Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 4m 21.50s

A Toi Phil^t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 154

10/1

Appears to be finding life difficult since winning a Grade 3 chase at Thurles in January. Will need to raise overall profile to play a role here.

Form: 1423-63

Great Field²⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: J S McGarvey| T: W P Mullins| OR: 164| D

4/7

Five from five over the larger obstacles including a Grade 1 win at the Punchestown festival in April. Trainer has won this race in ten of the last 11 years and this front-runner will take all the beating in this contest.

Form: P1111/1-

Doctor Phoenix^p,t²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: M A Enright| T: G Elliott| OR: 155| CD

9/1

Winner over C&D and successful in five of his 19 chase starts. Bit of a late developer and age could be against in this grade.

Form: 112F5-5

Sumos Novios²²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: W J Burke| OR: 150| C

25/1

Course winner who has won five of his 15 starts over the larger obstacles. Pulled up when beaten four out in the Grade 1 Punchestown Gold cup when last seen in April. Hard to place any faith in.

Form: 22811P-

Anibale Fly^t²³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Geraghty| T: A J Martin| OR: 167| D

16/1

Gallant third of 15 in the Gold Cup at the festival in March before a courageous fourth of 38 in the Grand National when last seen in April. Entitled to need the run on return to action.

Form: 591F34-

Castlegrace Paddy²²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: P A Fahy| OR: 150

13/2

Much improved to land two chases at Fairyhouse and Thurles last season before a heavy defeat in the Grade 1 Ryanair chase at Punchestown when last seen in April behind Footpad. Hard to fancy and plenty to prove.

Form: 415/115-

Special Tiara²²⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Cooper| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 157| D

8/1

2017 Queen Mother champion chase winner but has been no match for Altior in his most recent starts at the end of last season. Classy veteran will certainly have a few at it from the front.

Form: 2/3F3P4-

Three Stars^p⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Slevin| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 140| D

25/1

Without a win since a Grade 3 Punchestown success two years ago, but has run plenty of decent races in defeat since then. Well beaten latest and may find this beyond him.

Form: 50250-5

Forecasts

Great Field (4/7), Castlegrace Paddy (13/2), Special Tiara (8/1), Doctor Phoenix (9/1), A Toi Phil (10/1), Anibale Fly (16/1), Three Stars (25/1), Sumos Novios (25/1)

Won by Un De Sceaux 12-months ago while trainer Willie Mullins has won this race in ten of the last 11 years and his GREAT FIELD will take all the beating in this contest. Veterans Special Tiara and Doctor Phoenix look the best of the rest in a weak looking Grade 2 renewal.