16:10 Leopardstown

Sunday 3 February 2019

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Abbey International Leopardstown Handicap Chase (Grade A)

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 5m 18.0s

Doctor Phoenix^p,t¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 150| D

40/1

In good form last year and has been a little out of his depth on recent starts. Would have preferred softer ground to be seen at his best and not getting any younger.

Form: F5-5266

Cadmium⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 147

5/1

Grade 3 winner at Punchestown before two respectable runs upped in class towards the end of last year. Still low mileage and expected to go well back in a handicap here.

Form: 152134

Last Goodbye^b,t³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 146| CD

20/1

Impressive when winning this race last year but handicapper had his say and while he's run okay in defeat in two starts this season, the handicapper would appear to have his measure for now.

Form: 0100-25

Valseur Lido^p¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 146

25/1

Hasn't won since his impressive Grade 1 success at Down Royal back in 2016. Recent efforts have been below par though and likely to be primed for another Grand National bid in April.

Form: 38-0260

Cubomania^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 142

6/1

Has been in fine form of late, winning five races since wind surgery in the summer and has only found one too good on each of his last two starts. Needs a bit more to defy this mark but step back up in trip should help.

Form: 314F22

Vieux Morvan^b³⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 141| D

8/1

Finished a fair second here in the Paddy Power Chase last time out and seems to save his best for this course. Up 4lb and down in trip from the latest effort, opposable given he hasn't won since a hurdles success in 2016.

Form: 52-8BP2

Livelovelaugh³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136| D

8/1

Won a 10 runner chase on heavy ground at Cork just over a year ago but has gone the wrong way since, falling at Cheltenham and pulled up last time out here over 3m. Workable handicap mark but has questions to answer at present.

Form: 3/313F-P

Bel Ami De Sivola^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 134

16/1

Just one win from 13 starts over fences and seems to have lost his way in recent starts. Looked one paced last time and step back up in trip should help but others arrive with stronger claims.

Form: 3-36P55

Black Scorpion³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: D J Mullins| T: E McNamara| OR: 131

8/1

Was running okay when falling here in the Paddy Power Chase last time out and has been in good form since joining this yard with a win and two placed efforts from four starts. Has a bit to prove to defy this mark though.

Form: 14-213F

Gusty Rocky^t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Danny Mullins| T: P J Flynn| OR: 131

33/1

Hasn't won since a Flat success in 2016 and has shown no signs of a revival in his two most recent starts, pulled up at Gowran before only beating one home at Fairyhouse. Questions to answer at present.

Form: UP22P7

Landofhopeandglory^p,t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 130

13/2

Grade 3 winner over both hurdles and fences and shaped like a return to form may be imminent when fifth of 16 at Limerick last time out, travelling well in to the race. On a fair mark and hold each-way claims here.

Form: 10U0-05

Speaker Connolly³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A Fleming| OR: 130| CD

7/1

Put up a much improved effort on handicap debut over fences last time out when winning a C&D event by 5L. 11lb rise is fair for that effort and has fewer miles on the clock than many of these.

Form: 1P-9861

Whisperinthebreeze^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 130| BF

7/1

Just a maiden hurdle win to his name under Rules but unlucky not to have had his head in front over fences to date with three second placed efforts. 4lb higher makes life tougher up in Grade here though.

Form: 242522

Non-Runners

Any Second Now³⁸

Weight: 10-13| Age: 7

T: T M Walsh J: Mark Walsh

Fitzhenry³⁸

Weight: 10-6| Age: 7

T: P Nolan J: B J Geraghty

De Name Escapes Me³⁸

Weight: 10-3| Age: 9

T: N Meade J: N P Madden

Scoir Mear³⁸

Weight: 9-13| Age: 9

T: T Mullins J: M A Enright

Forecasts

De Name Escapes Me (9/2), Cadmium (5/1), Cubomania (6/1), Landofhopeandglory (13/2), Whisperinthebreeze (7/1), Speaker Connolly (7/1), Livelovelaugh (8/1), Vieux Morvan (8/1), Black Scorpion (8/1), Any Second Now (12/1), Fitzhenry (12/1), Bel Ami De Sivola (16/1), Last Goodbye (20/1), Scoir Mear (20/1), Valseur Lido (25/1), Gusty Rocky (33/1), Doctor Phoenix (40/1)

A wide-open renewal of this contest but it might be worth siding with FITZHENRY in the first-time blinkers. He's a consistent sort who performed well over 3m here last time out and a 2lb rise for that effort is fair. Owner JP McManus has a strong hand in the race also saddling the likes of Any Second Now and Scoir Mear who have solid each-way claims but Cadmium may be the main danger back in a handicap after some respectable efforts in Graded company.