15:00 Gowran Park

Thursday 24 January 2019

All12:4513:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase (Grade A)

Off time: 14:59 | Winning time: 6m 29.20s

Alpha Des Obeaux^b1,t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr R James⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 155| C

20/1

Solid and consistent sort, winner of a Listed contest at Thurles in November. Could be of interest in first-time blinkers but tough ask off top weight. One of six in the field for leading trainer.

Form: 6F-5214

Pleasant Company^h²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 154| BF| D

25/1

Distance winner who was beaten favourite last time out in a Leopardstown handicap hurdle over Christmas. Last seen over the larger obstacles finishing an agonising second to Tiger Roll in the Grand National. Plenty to prove today.

Form: 19/0P2-0

Invitation Only²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| C

4/1

Ran in to Al Boum Photo on first start of the season in a Listed contest at Tramore on New Years Day. One for the shortlist. One of eight in the race for trainer.

Form: 13P3U-3

Monbeg Notorious^v²⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 152| CD

8/1

C&D winner of this race 12 months ago. Not seen since finishing second of 11 beaten 6L in the Grade 1 Growise novice chase at Punchestown in April. One of six in the field for leading trainer.

Form: 211182-

Mall Dini^t⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: P G Kelly| OR: 149| BF

11/1

Beaten favourite when last seen at Punchestown in November finishing over 7L adrift of Ben Dundee off a 1lb higher mark. Strong place claims.

Form: 5452P-3

Sumos Novios⁴⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: R M Power| T: W J Burke| OR: 149

22/1

Eighth of 15 beaten 60L in this contest 12 months ago. Winner at Wexford and Cork since, but isn't getting any younger and may run in to a couple better handicapped sorts.

Form: 2811P-5

Dounikos²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Flanagan| T: G Elliott| OR: 148| C

12/1

Pulled up in the Grade 1 Growise novice chase at the Punchestown festival in April and has produced a couple of laboured displays since. Plenty to prove in this contest looking at exposed form.

Form: 4PPP-07

Pairofbrowneyes²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Geraghty| T: W P Mullins| OR: 147| C

16/1

Winner of the 2m7f Leinster national here in March off a 10lb lower mark. Well beaten at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown since. Needs to improve on a couple of below par efforts to play a role.

Form: 6/801F-0

Valseur Lido^p1²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 147| D

25/1

Generally well beaten in a couple of Listed contests since November and may need more than first-time cheekpieces to trigger an improved performance.

Form: 538-026

Up For Review²⁵⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146| C

10/1

Winner of two of his five starts over the larger obstacles including a novice contest at Killarney when last seen in May. Time off the track a concern and one of eight in the race for trainer.

Form: 1/2148-1

Some Neck⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: R Deegan⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| C

15/2

Winner of the Grade 2 Florida Pearl novice chase at Punchestown when last seen in November. Best form brings him in to the equation.

Form: 5/14U-61

Isleofhopendreams²⁷¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144

18/1

Caught the eye in a run of second places in the spring of last year including when last seen at Punchestown in April. Hard to see him making any significant impact.

Form: 0/PP222-

Polidam^h²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144

28/1

Caught the eye in a run of second places in the spring of last year including when last seen at Punchestown in April. Hard to see him making any significant impact.

Form: 0594-40

General Principle^t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 143| C

12/1

Has struggled since winning the Irish Grand National in April at Fairyhouse off a 4lb lower mark. Capable of bouncing back if in the mood.

Form: 0461-09

Out Sam^t⁵³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 140

20/1

Winner of the Cork Grand National in November over 3m4f off an 8lb lower mark. Well held since and regular jockey dismisses the 10-year-old here.

Form: P33-157

Bellow Mome⁶⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137| BF

33/1

Notable that the Honolulu gelding has been kept in training with this yard but difficult to see him making an impression here.

Form: 81846U/

Borice^t1²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 137

10/1

Gone close in France in some decent races. An intriguing runner in these colours having been sent to Gordon Elliott on arrival into Ireland. Well held on stable debut and others preferred.

Form: 4P3-750

Mr Diablo^t⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 137

8/1

Gallant effort in the Troytown over 3m in November, seeing off all bar one rival before not disgraced at Navan last month. Likable sort with each way claims.

Form: 0B/4-025

Non-Runners

Goulane Chosen²⁸

Weight: 10-5| Age: 10

T: S Spillane J: Reserve 1

Woods Well⁵

Weight: 10-5| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: Reserve 2

Nick Lost²⁶

Weight: 10-4| Age: 7

T: H De Bromhead J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Invitation Only (4/1), Some Neck (15/2), Mr Diablo (8/1), Monbeg Notorious (8/1), Up For Review (10/1), Borice (10/1), Mall Dini (11/1), General Principle (12/1), Dounikos (12/1), Pairofbrowneyes (16/1), Nick Lost (16/1), Isleofhopendreams (18/1), Alpha Des Obeaux (20/1), Out Sam (20/1), Sumos Novios (22/1), Pleasant Company (25/1), Valseur Lido (25/1), Goulane Chosen (25/1), Woods Well (25/1), Polidam (28/1), Bellow Mome (33/1)

Willie Mullins is responsible for eight of the 18 runners here, while trainer Gordon Elliott has declared six runners, with all 14 worthy of consideration in one way or another. GENERAL PRINCIPLE can rediscover his form that landed him Irish Grand National glory in April, with the ground and course form in the 10-year-old favour here. Pairofbrowneyes can go well at a price for the interesting combination of trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Barry Geraghty, while Mr Diablo and Sumos Novios are deserving of a second look.