16:20 Punchestown

Sunday 10 February 2019

All13:4514:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:50

BoyleSports Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Grade B)

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 7m 35.60s

Monbeg Notorious^v¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 152| C

20/1

Grade Two winner and Grade One placed novice last season. Just had the one start this season where he failed to fire in the Thyestes but may have needed the run. Where he fits in trainer's sextet not clear but stamina to prove.

Form: 11182-0

Dounikos¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| C

12/1

Grade Two winning novice lost his way afterwards, pulling up in last three of the campaign. Ran best race for some time over Christmas but fell when beaten in the Thyestes. Such a marathon test might just suit so not ruled out.

Form: PPP-07F

Some Neck¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| C

9/2

Grade Two winning novice (2m6½f) penultimately but fell before halfway next in the Thyestes. Still relatively unexposed for top connections and might well appreciate this sort of test. Respected.

Form: 14U-61F

Youcantcallherthat⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 143| BF

25/1

Won five times last season including at Grade Three and Two level. Two good runs over hurdles this term but lesser effort in between over fences. Handicapper may have her measure and stamina doubts here.

Form: 116-273

General Principle^t¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 142| C| D

10/1

Irish Grand National winner last season has continued to be highly tried this season. Thyestes fifth best run since National and arrives here just 3lb higher than that success. Looks first string of six for yard who won this last season.

Form: 461-095

Isleofhopendreams¹⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 10-9| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| C

12/1

Second in this last year and same in Irish National itself (neck behind General Principle). Well beaten when pulled-up in the Thyestes but entitled to have needed that although notable that he looks trainer third string on jockey bookings.

Form: PP222-P

Woods Well^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 137

25/1

2m6½f winner first time out at Thurles but struggled since and was pulled up in this race a year ago. Trainer runs six and this one looks one of the least likely with stamina doubts persisting over such trips.

Form: P6-1009

Arkwrisht⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 136

20/1

Only chase win over 2m4f but quelled majority of stamina doubts when sixth in last season's Irish National. Well below that level in three starts this season but possible return to such a test will suit better.

Form: 076-3P0

Solomn Grundy⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: T Scudamore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 136

11/2

Still a maiden over fences but looks potentially well handicapped at present. Fourth of 27 in 3m½f Paddy Power at Leopardstown saw him ahead of a whole host of these and looks likely to stay. Major contender.

Form: 2291-24

Fitzhenry^b1⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Mark Walsh| T: P Nolan| OR: 135

6/1

Fared best of the five of these to run in the Paddy Power over Christmas where he was third of 27. Third the time before also in first try over a marathon trip (3m5f) and looks a very interesting contender for a yard in terrific form.

Form: 212-633

Orion D'Aubrelle^p⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134

16/1

Listowel winner in September pulled up next and well beaten in the Paddy Power since. Still quite lightly raced and youngest in the field but longer trip will have to see major improvement.

Form: 4-531P0

Space Cadet⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: M A Enright| T: G Elliott| OR: 134

20/1

Last win a moderate 2m contest back in 2016. Pulled up last two of last season and well beaten 12th of 25 at Navan in the Troytown first time out this season. Can come on for that but trainer has stronger contenders.

Form: 342PP-0

Wishmoor³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-11| J: A Ring| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 130| C

20/1

Dual 2m4f winner only once raced at 3m and mostly races over shorter trips. Not arriving in great form and stamina doubts very obvious so others preferred.

Form: 11-F086

Kilkishen^p⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: S Bowen| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 129

8/1

Stayed on well to land first chase success over 3m1f at Fairyhouse last term beating an in form rival. Looked likely to stay further there and although up in class quite significantly now he rates a very interesting contender with so little weight.

Form: 634P31

Agent Boru²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: J M Moore| T: T Gibney| OR: 129

10/1

Yet to win over fences (four starts) but last run his best when second at Fairyhouse over 2m4f. Won over 3m over hurdles so should do better over farther although this an unknown and is 4lb out of the handicap.

Form: 10-4602

Dinnie's Vinnie^p⁵⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 9-10| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 129| C| D

25/1

Seven-time winner over fences and proved stamina for this trip with 3m5f success at Fairyhouse penultimately. This represents a big step up class wise however and he's 5lb out of the handicap today.

Form: 84-1615

Non-Runners

Don Poli¹⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 10

T: G Elliott J: K Brogan

Forecasts

Some Neck (9/2), Solomn Grundy (11/2), Fitzhenry (6/1), Kilkishen (8/1), General Principle (10/1), Agent Boru (10/1), Dounikos (12/1), Isleofhopendreams (12/1), Don Poli (16/1), Orion D'Aubrelle (16/1), Wishmoor (20/1), Monbeg Notorious (20/1), Space Cadet (20/1), Arkwrisht (20/1), Youcantcallherthat (25/1), Dinnie's Vinnie (25/1), Woods Well (25/1)

Solumn Grundy was a huge eye-catcher in the Paddy Power at Christmas and looked one to watch when tackling such a test but having been raised 7lb for finishing fourth preference is for FITZHENRY who finished ½L ahead of him that day yet now meets Henry De Bromhead's rival at considerably better terms. The form of Paul Nolan's runners is another major boost for the selection. Irish National winner General Principle is a force to be reckoned with over such distances and rates the best of Gordon Elliott's six.