16:50 Naas

Sunday 10 March 2019

All14:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:5017:20

Toalsbet Bookmakers Leinster National Handicap Chase (Grade A)

Off time: 16:53 | Winning time: 6m 30.00s

Monbeg Notorious^v²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 151| D

10/1

Not shown his best in two runs this term, including when no match for stablemate Dounikos last time at Punchestown over further. Appears to need very testing ground.

Form: 1182-00

Pairofbrowneyes⁴⁵

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

12/1

Won this race a year ago (run at Gowran Park) on debut for Willie Mullins. Hasn't matched that form in three runs since and is rated 9lb higher now but could be primed for this mission.

Form: 801F-00

Last Goodbye^b,t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 144

33/1

Leopardstown winner last season over 2m5f when rated 135. Handicapper has been in charge since and should remain so, with question-mark over the trip too.

Form: 100-250

Blow By Blow^b,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: G Elliott| OR: 142

10/1

Won a beginners' chase at Galway on first start over fences, hasn't happened in good novice races since. Hard to predict on first foray into open handicap company having run poor race last time at Navan (3m, yielding), but must be respected.

Form: 1273P6

Youcantcallherthat²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 142| D

16/1

Five-time winner last season, including over this trip. High enough in handicap now and never able to get competitive in Grand National Trial (3m4½f, good to yielding) at Punchestown won by Dounikos.

Form: 16-2738

Isleofhopendreams²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 10-8| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| D

16/1

Runner-up in Irish Grand National last year amid a run of very consistent form. Pulled up in both starts this season though, including in race won by Dounikos last time. Won't mind any rain and on fair mark if bouncing back.

Form: P222-PP

Vieux Morvan^b³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 140

11/1

Frontrunner is on a long winless streak now. Only found one too good over this trip at Christmas and drop in distance probably caught him out since. Can run well.

Form: 2-8BP28

Bellow Mome⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135

10/1

Race well to a point in the Thyestes at Gowran Park (3m1f, soft; 33-1) on his return from 655-day absence. Could have more to offer, though will need a career-best to prevail.

Form: 1846U/0

Wishmoor²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 133| C

9/2

Unexposed sort that found only Dounikos too strong at Punchestown last month over longer trip. That was an improved showing and previous course winner could have more to come from just 3lb higher.

Form: 1-F0862

De Name Escapes Me^h,t⁷³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: N P Madden| T: N Meade| OR: 132| C

7/1

In fine form over hurdles last year and made a winning return to this discipline at Navan in December. Disappointed last time though but not one to write off from reduced mark over fences.

Form: P3-1210

Icantsay⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-13| J: Phillip Enright| T: J P Ryan| OR: 131| D

25/1

Winner of this sort of contest at Killarney (3m2f, good) in May, 3lb higher now in better event but has a recent spin over hurdles to boost fitness for this contest.

Form: 10P9-10

Killer Miller⁷⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-12| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade| OR: 130| C

10/1

Course winner in beginners' chase back in 2015, lightly-raced since and this looks tough enough reverting from hurdles.

Form: 1139F/3

Scoir Mear²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: T Mullins| OR: 127| BF

14/1

No win since 2016 and 0-11 over fences all told. Capable of betting competitive on a going day but others make more appeal for win purposes.

Form: P7-7606

The Conditional^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: C A Landers⁽⁵⁾| T: M Hassett| OR: 126| D

5/1

Has run well in beginners' contest at times this season, though well beaten over this C&D Grade 3 novice in January. Possible there's more to come now handicapping.

Form: 24F465

Non-Runners

Dounikos²⁸

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: G Elliott J: D N Russell

Forecasts

Dounikos (7/2), Wishmoor (9/2), The Conditional (5/1), De Name Escapes Me (7/1), Bellow Mome (10/1), Monbeg Notorious (10/1), Blow By Blow (10/1), Killer Miller (10/1), Vieux Morvan (11/1), Pairofbrowneyes (12/1), Scoir Mear (14/1), Isleofhopendreams (16/1), Youcantcallherthat (16/1), Icantsay (25/1), Last Goodbye (33/1)

Dounikos was back to form at Punchestown last month when taking a Grand National Trial. He's gone up 9lb for his trouble, but still should be capable of going well. The runner-up WISHMOOR was showing improved form in that contest and, with Rachel Blackmore up now, there may be more to come today. A third Gigginstown runner, Blow By Blow, should not be overlooked too hastily dipping into a handicap for the first time, a comment that is also applied to The Conditional from the foot of the weights. Last year's winner Pairofbrowneyes must bounce back to form while De Name Escapes Me retains the notion he could land a race of this nature somewhere.