15:00 Leopardstown

Thursday 27 December 2018

All12:1012:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:30

Paddy Power Chase (0-150) (Grade B)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 6m 7.90s

Dounikos³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 149

33/1

Can be useful on his day but well down the field and beaten a fair old way in the Troytown last month on seasonal bow. Big step forward demanded.

Form: 14PPP-0

Pairofbrowneyes²⁶⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 147| BF

16/1

Gowran Park winner in March, sent off market leader for the Irish National subsequently but didn't get far. Off since, capable of stripping ready for this.

Form: 06/801F-

Jett¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 146| C

25/1

Didn't run badly at Navan last time but plenty do if hoping to reverse form with De Name Escapes Me, despite better terms and being upped to 3m.

Form: 912-438

Polidam^h²²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145

20/1

Strongly fancied for this race a year ago, but eventually beaten 28L and has a question to answer over the trip. Not spotted since the summer, far from fully exposed.

Form: 10594-4

Carlingford Lough¹⁰⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Geraghty| T: J E Kiely| OR: 144| CD

22/1

Five-times a Grade 1 winner and three C&D successes to his name. Former Irish Gold Cup winner is a standing dish around here. Will be a teenager soon and should find a few better equipped.

Form: 7U5PP-F

General Principle^t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Ms L O'Neill| T: G Elliott| OR: 144| D

33/1

Former Irish National scorer, beaten thick end of 50L in the Troytown at Navan over 2m4f on return. Hard to have big confidence in him now.

Form: 70461-0

Any Second Now^b1²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Mark Walsh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 141| BF

5/1

Clearly has talent but finding winning hard. Ran well at Fairyhouse (second) latest over this trip. Blinkers are added in bid to get him to click.

Form: 2238-52

Blazer²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: J S McGarvey| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139| C

16/1

Would be a threat to all at his best, hasn't come up to that level in recent starts but cannot be discounted for champion trainer as he swaps hurdles for fences here.

Form: 3/14-280

Squouateur^b1,t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: G Elliott| OR: 138| C

20/1

Another that has talent but cannot be relied on to showcase it on demand. Frustrating overall, the blinkers are tried for the first time now as he reverts here from a poor run over hurdles at Navan this month.

Form: 03BP-P0

Woods Well³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Brian Hayes| T: G Elliott| OR: 138

33/1

Galway winner in October and was well supported for the Troytown as one of a battalion for the trainer. Ran poor race there, must bounce back but that isn't to be ruled out.

Form: P5P6-10

Arkwrisht^t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 137

25/1

Exposed sort, capable of running a pleasing enough race here without taking a big prize away. Pulled up last time at Navan over similar distance, having been undone my mistakes.

Form: 4076-3P

Borice¹⁰⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 137

12/1

Gone close in France in some decent races. An intriguing runner in these colours having been sent to Gordon Elliott on arrival into Ireland. Potentially on a very fair mark and has champion rider up.

Form: 24P3-75

Livelovelaugh²⁸⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137| D

9/1

One win from four over fences, made an early exit in big handicap at Cheltenham Festival in March when last spotted. Seemingly the choice of Ruby Walsh on return and could have plenty more to offer.

Form: 43/313F-

Rogue Angel^b,t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 137| D

28/1

Former Irish National hero, wound the clock back in the Cork version in November to finish a gallant second but long way below that form both starts since and easier to pass him over on form.

Form: 236205

Vieux Morvan^b¹⁰⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 137

33/1

Tends to run this C&D quite well, off since being pulled up in Kerry National in the autumn and has now gone 13 starts without success. Opposable on balance.

Form: 6/52-8BP

Snugsborough Benny²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: D F O'Regan| T: L P Cusack| OR: 136| D

12/1

Lightly-raced for an eight-year-old, had a recent pipe-opener at Fairyhouse over timber and strong chance he goes well switched back to this discipline.

Form: 4-61319

Orion D'Aubrelle^p1³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: R Deegan⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135

40/1

Cheekpieces go back on today but the jumping did for his chances at Punchestown in November and going to have jump better now venturing into a handicap over these obstacles for the first time.

Form: 04-531P

Goose Man¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Liam McKenna| T: T J Taaffe| OR: 134

22/1

Travelled well enough over 2m4f at Navan last time, coming back a layoff of 311 days in doing so, every chance that run was needed and should be more in tune now.

Form: 3/2211-9

De Name Escapes Me^t¹⁹^{(ex 14)}

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: N P Madden| T: N Meade| OR: 119

13/2

Beat Solomn Grundy at Navan last time over 2m4f, seemingly getting there a bit cheekily for close run things. Handicapper has reacted with a sizeable hike but connections feel he can handle it.

Form: 0P3-121

Drumconnor Lad^b1,t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Robbie Colgan| T: A Keatley| OR: 133| D

50/1

Gowran Park winner over 2m4f penultimate start, though since proved no match for De Name Escapes Me at Navan. Useful pull at the weighs now, but still likely that form stands up.

Form: 7P3410

Fitzhenry^p²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: P D Kennedy| T: P Nolan| OR: 133| D

25/1

Good third last time at Fairyhouse over marathon 3m5f journey, should handle this examination no problems but may need to improve to have a leading say.

Form: 1212-63

Minella Beau³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 132| D

28/1

Couple of non-completions on the record at Cork and Navan lately, most recently when being let down by jumping in the Troytown behind a few of these.

Form: 0-143FP

Auvergnat^b¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 131| D

28/1

Hasn't cut much ice over hurdles of late and while the return to chasing is a positive, would still come as a big shock this Cross Country specialist land this with blinkers back on.

Form: 141-300

Black Scorpion⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Flanagan| T: E McNamara| OR: 131| BF| D

14/1

Good third in Munster National at Limerick in October whne last spotted. Not harshly treated going up 3lb and positive jockey booking for this mission.

Form: 314-213

Scoir Mear¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: C D Maxwell| T: T Mullins| OR: 130

20/1

Was in sixth last month at Navan behind De Name Escapes Me, 0-9 over fences however and will need to up his game to be winning this one.

Form: 52P7-76

Solomn Grundy¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 129| D

6/1

Was having a first run for Henry De Bromhead at Navan last month when foiled late on by De Name Escapes Me. Only beaten ½L and now 14lb better off, though suspicion the winner will have more to come so must do better too.

Form: 22291-2

Timeforwest^p²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Reserve 1| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 129| BF| D

33/1

Good second over 2m4f at Fairyhouse this month, giving first run to the winner and closing all the way to the line. She's capable of getting in the mix upped in journey (First Reserve).

Form: 19-5122

Non-Runners

Slowmotion¹⁰⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: J P O'Brien J: Liam McKenna

Killer Miller¹

Weight: 10-5| Age: 9

T: N Meade J: S J Crimin

Dont Kick Nor Bite⁶⁰

Weight: 10-2| Age: 7

T: R Tyner J: Reserve 2

Close Shave¹²

Weight: 10-2| Age: 7

T: Mrs J Harrington J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Any Second Now (5/1), Solomn Grundy (6/1), De Name Escapes Me (13/2), Livelovelaugh (9/1), Borice (12/1), Snugsborough Benny (12/1), Slowmotion (14/1), Black Scorpion (14/1), Blazer (16/1), Pairofbrowneyes (16/1), Scoir Mear (20/1), Polidam (20/1), Squouateur (20/1), Carlingford Lough (22/1), Goose Man (22/1), Fitzhenry (25/1), Arkwrisht (25/1), Jett (25/1), Dont Kick Nor Bite (25/1), Auvergnat (28/1), Rogue Angel (28/1), Minella Beau (28/1), Vieux Morvan (33/1), Dounikos (33/1), General Principle (33/1), Timeforwest (33/1), Woods Well (33/1), Orion D'Aubrelle (40/1), Killer Miller (50/1), Close Shave (50/1), Drumconnor Lad (50/1)

De Name Escapes Me appeared to win a shade cosily at Navan but, while he's respected, the 14lb burden imposed on him by the handicapper might take its toll at the death. In the same colours, another chance is handed to ANY SECOND NOW. He's yet to win over fences but has shown lots of promise. This 3m trip and the new blinkers could be the making of a talented but frustrating character. There are endless dangers. Solomn Grundy is one, on his second to the likely favourite last time out, while Livelovelaugh is another up in journey. Polidam was well-backed for this a year ago and, in the same ownership, Borice is well worth noting.