16:20 Leopardstown

Saturday 2 February 2019

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:20

Goffs Handicap Chase (Rated 0-150) (Grade B)

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 4m 2.90s

Duke Of Navan³⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 147| D

20/1

Ran a stormer at Cheltenham on reappearance in October, headed final strides. Not as good either run since at Ascot or Wetherby however. Trainer does well at this track but needs to bounce right back.

Form: 213-2P5

Tycoon Prince^t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| CD

33/1

C&D winner in beginners' event in December 2017. Started this winter with fine second behind Saint Calvados in Naas Grade 3 but gone backwards since in handicaps and hard to enthuse about right now.

Form: 9P-2548

De Plotting Shed^b,t³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 146

20/1

Fair sort but cannot be accused of being consistency and all career wins have come over hurdles. Previously 0-9 chasing and shock if getting breakthrough here.

Form: F44404

Mind's Eye³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 144| C

5/1

Winner of beginners' contest at Wexford in October and handed two tough graded assignments since, including when fifth of six behind Le Richebourg in Racing Post Novices' Chase over C&D latest. Can improve fortunes in a handicap.

Form: 04-2165

Three Stars^b1²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Slevin| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 144| D

14/1

Without a win since a Grade 3 Punchestown success more two years ago, mark is sliding but well enough beaten in three runs this term to ensure he's overlooked, despite inclusion of first-time blinkers.

Form: 250-547

Moon Over Germany³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 141

10/3

Has returned from more than two years off to commence chasing career at eight-years-old. Run two very good races in beginners' company, including second to stablemate Paloma Blue over C&D last time. Could be major force now handicapping.

Form: 3650/32

Kildorrery^h²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Ruby Walsh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 139

6/1

Has shown smart form since going chasing and despite failing to add to opening win at Punchestown (2m, good) is notable now switching to handicaps. Stayed on into fourth from out the back over this trip at Fairyhouse last time.

Form: 151424

Quamino^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan| OR: 138

14/1

Bang average hurdler already doing much better as a chaser. Winner over 2m5f at Fairyhouse earlier in the season and just denied at Naas over this trip latest. More asked from new rating.

Form: 2613U2

Lake Takapuna^v³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: D J Mullins| T: D K Weld| OR: 134| BF| CD

5/1

Fair chaser, though only 2-15, ran well here last month over timber on debut for Dermot Weld in first-time visor when second to in-form runner. Much higher rating back in this sphere however, headgear retained.

Form: 9P1442

Tisamystery^p³⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: D P Holden⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 134| CD

14/1

In good form this season, producing career-best to win handicap chase over C&D (good) on St Stephen's Day for the second year running. This is tougher.

Form: 399521

R'evelyn Pleasure²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Donagh Meyler| T: S O O'Brien| OR: 133

8/1

Improving with each outing over fences, winning two of past three after fall on debut. Scored over 2m4f at Fairyhouse latest and now down in distance for handicap debut.

Form: 29F121

Dakota Moirette^p1⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 131

11/1

0-5 over these obstacles but improving each time and latest close third at Fairyhouse over this trip continued that trend. Cheekpieces on first time now and not discounted.

Form: 37-8U43

Kylecrue^b²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-8| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 131

25/1

Well into the veteran stages now and more miss than hit of late, while the drop in trip is far from certain to be a positive. Opposable.

Form: 688426

Presenting Mahler²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: M A Enright| T: J P Ryan| OR: 119| D

40/1

Veteran of 36 starts over the larger obstacles, winner on four occasions. Didn't run badly over C&D at Christmas but really poor since at Naas and looks up against it on form.

Form: P74077

Non-Runners

Three Wise Men¹⁴⁰

Weight: 11-2| Age: 9

T: H De Bromhead J: Danny Mullins

Forecasts

Moon Over Germany (10/3), Mind's Eye (5/1), Lake Takapuna (5/1), Kildorrery (6/1), R'evelyn Pleasure (8/1), Dakota Moirette (11/1), Quamino (14/1), Tisamystery (14/1), Three Stars (14/1), Three Wise Men (16/1), Duke Of Navan (20/1), De Plotting Shed (20/1), Kylecrue (25/1), Tycoon Prince (33/1), Presenting Mahler (40/1)

Plenty of these remain unexposed and it is a difficult finale for punters to solve. Quamino already looks better in this sphere than he was as a hurdler and can play a role but handicap debutants Mind's Eye, Kildorrery and R'evelyn Pleasure all command respect and must be noted. Dakota Moirette has already improved in his two handicaps and should be winning sooner rather than later but the vote is reserved for MOON OVER GERMANY. He has run well behind smart sorts in beginners' events and his opening handicap mark may well prove lenient following a C&D second last month (winner runs in preceding Grade 1).