17:00 Fairyhouse

Monday 22 April 2019

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2017:0017:4018:10

BoyleSports Irish Grand National Chase (Grade A)

Off time: 17:01 | Winning time: 7m 47.60s

Tout Est Permis⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 157

16/1

Joined Noel Meade last summer and made impressive start with career-best to win at Galway in October and has gone on to win at Navan and a Grade 2 success at Thurles in January. Trainer last won this contest in 2002 with The Bunny Boiler.

Form: 58-7111

Dounikos¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 156| D

33/1

Distance winner, pulled up at Aintree behind Tiger Roll last time. One of 12 in the race for the trainer. Yard won their first Irish National 12 months ago with General Principle, but have hit the frame on four occasions in the last three renewals.

Form: P-07F1P

Jury Duty^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: R M Power| T: G Elliott| OR: 156

11/1

Winner of three of his 12 starts over fences. Yard have started peppering the target in the last couple of years in this contest with five first-six finishers in the last three years. One of a dozen runners in the contest for the yard.

Form: 37211U

Pairofbrowneyes⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155| C

12/1

Won his second Leinster national in March off a 9lb lower mark. Hitting form at the right time and holds strong place claims. Likely to run well under Gold Cup-winning jockey. One of seven in the race from this yard.

Form: 01F-001

Total Recall⁹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155

16/1

Pulled up when favourite for the 2018 Grand National. 6L adrift of Al Boum Photo at Tramore before finishing 9½L behind Tout Est Permis in a couple of starts in January. Leading trainer runs seven in this contest.

Form: 1FPP-23

Shattered Love^t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 154| C

11/1

Mare was a promising novice last season. One of a dozen in the contest from the yard. Trainer won his first Irish National with General Principle 12 months ago and has hit the first six with five runners in the last three seasons.

Form: 25-2209

A Toi Phil^t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: G Elliott| OR: 151

33/1

All his best form has come over 2m4f. Yard have started to reap the benefits in the last couple of years in this contest with five first-six finishers in the last three years and the trainer runs 12 here.

Form: 7P5450

Acapella Bourgeois^h²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| C

18/1

Course winner, well held in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival before getting back to winning ways at Clonmel a month ago. One of seven in the race from this yard and looks to be one of the least fancied.

Form: 5/F2P-01

Any Second Now^b³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 150

10/1

Finished fifth in a competitive handicap chase over an extended 3m at Leopardstown on good ground in December. Winner of the Kim Muir in good style at the Cheltenham Festival off a 7lb lower mark. Has the form to make a bold bid.

Form: 8-52531

Monbeg Notorious^v¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: C Brassil⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 150

66/1

Three from 11 over fences, pulled up in the Grand National. One of 12 in the race for a trainer who won his first Irish National with General Principle 12 months ago and has hit the first six with five runners in the last three seasons.

Form: 82-006P

Minella Rocco^p,t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 148

28/1

Won the four-mile race at Cheltenham back in 2016 but hasn't won since, failing to complete on six occasions including pulling up in the Ultima and the Grand National. Looks a tall order but jockey should be noted.

Form: 4F-59PP

Snugsborough Benny⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: D F O'Regan| T: L P Cusack| OR: 145| C

14/1

Winner of three of his nine starts over the larger obstacles. The Beneficial gelding has gone up 17lb since his win at the Galway festival in August. Winner last time out here in February, more improvement is needed once again.

Form: 1319U1

Burrows Saint^t²²^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137

6/1

Made a belated chase debut in February before winning impressively on a couple of starts last month, notably in a Grade 3 novice chase at Limerick over 3½m. One of seven in the race for respected connections.

Form: 203-411

General Principle^t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Donagh Meyler| T: G Elliott| OR: 144| CD

33/1

Finished fifth of 28 in this contest two years ago before landing the spoils last year. Can go well once again but has a couple of below-par efforts at Cheltenham and the Grand National at Aintree to shake off.

Form: 0953PF

Auvergnat^b⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: N P Madden| T: E Bolger| OR: 143

16/1

Winner of six of his 27 starts over fences with a fair number of those wins coming over Cross-Country and Banks' courses'. Could be a lively outsider but may find one or two better suited to today's conditions.

Form: 1-3001P

Isleofhopendreams⁴³

Age: 12| Weight: 10-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143

20/1

Fairly consistent sort over the larger obstacles but has just one success on the board from eight starts. Second of 14 over 3m at Naas last month. Agonisingly thwarted in this race 12 months ago.

Form: 222-PP2

Blow By Blow^b,t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: J S McGarvey| T: G Elliott| OR: 141| C

66/1

In no sort of form of late, pulled-up on three of his last four starts including when pulled up in rear before the 18th in the Grand National earlier this month. Easy to look elsewhere with the trainer heavy handed, running 12 in the race.

Form: 73P6PP

Valseur Lido^p¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 141| C

40/1

Has been struggling for any sort of form since the turn of the year over a variety of trips, but ran a gallant race in the Grand National finishing 10th beaten 33L behind Tiger Roll. More needed.

Form: 609300

Woods Well^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: B J Cooper| T: G Elliott| OR: 141| C

33/1

Returned to form with victory in a valuable handicap chase over an extended 2m5f at Leopardstown before running well in defeat in the Topham Chase at Aintree earlier this month. One of 12 in the race for the trainer and one for the shortlist.

Form: 009015

C'Est Jersey^b⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140

16/1

Second in a Grade B handicap hurdle at the Punchestown festival on final start of last season. Appears to be not up to the standard required here in two starts this term. One of seven in the race for the champion trainer and looks low on his list.

Form: P052-33

Out Sam^t,v²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: Brian Hayes| T: G Elliott| OR: 140| BF

66/1

Well held in four starts since a win at Cork in November. Yard have a fine record in this contest in the last couple of years with five first-six finishers in the last three years. Leading yard run 12 in the contest.

Form: 3-1574P

Gun Digger^p,t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 139

14/1

Better than when pulling up in the four-miler at the Cheltenham Festival. Stowaway gelding deserves another chance here. One of 12 in the race for a trainer who won his first Irish National 12 months ago with General Principle.

Form: 0-3214F

Whisperinthebreeze^p⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 139

16/1

Taken a while to get going over fences but confirmed himself a progressive young chaser with an impressive Leopardstown handicap win in February before falling in the four-miler at the festival. Trainer won this contest two years ago with Our Duke.

Form: 25221F

Roaring Bull^b²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott| OR: 138| C

25/1

Not disgraced in a couple of starts since a win a Naas in February. One of a dozen in the field for a yard who have started hitting the target in the last couple of years in this contest with five first-six finishers in the last three years.

Form: 214163

Forever Gold^p³²

Age: 12| Weight: 10-1| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: E Cawley| OR: 137| CD

50/1

Veteran, winner of two of his 23 starts over fences and winner of one of four starts over C&D, but not seen in the winners enclosure since December 2016. On balance, probably has something to find in this contest.

Form: 3U-0007

Bellow Mome⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136

25/1

One from seven over the larger obstacles, raced well to a point in the Thyestes at Gowran Park on his return from 655-day absence, before finishing third of 14 beaten 9¾L behind stablemate Pairofbrowneyes at Naas last month. Trainer runs seven here.

Form: 846U/03

Kimberlite Candy⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: R P McLernon| T: T Lacey| OR: 136| BF

20/1

Disappointed at Haydock before Christmas, the Flemensfirth gelding bounced back with a much improved effort when placed in a Class 2 at Sandown. Backed in to favouritism when fifth of 16 beaten over 14L in the Eider Chase at Newcastle last time.

Form: 31-1935

Measureofmydreams^p³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: M A Enright| T: G Elliott| OR: 136| BF

20/1

Veteran, winner of two of his 11 starts over Fences. Yard won their first Irish National 12 months ago with General Principle and have hit the frame on a further four occasions in the last three renewals. Leading trainer runs 12 in the contest.

Form: P0U9/38

Shady Operator⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 136

10/1

Won a 3m1f beginners' chase at Punchestown a couple of starts back but failed to back that up in a Grade 3 novice event at Naas in January. Last seen finishing seventh of 20 beaten 31L in the Close Brothers at Cheltenham. Lively outsider.

Form: 22-3147

Arkwrisht^t³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-13| J: A Ring| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 135

50/1

Some decent form last season but has failed to finish on three of his last four starts, most recently when falling three out in the Kim Muir. Has won just once for this yard in 18 starts and is unlikely to add to that total here.

Form: 6-3P0UF

Forecasts

Burrows Saint (6/1), Any Second Now (10/1), Shady Operator (10/1), Shattered Love (11/1), Jury Duty (11/1), Pairofbrowneyes (12/1), Snugsborough Benny (14/1), Gun Digger (14/1), Tout Est Permis (16/1), Whisperinthebreeze (16/1), Auvergnat (16/1), C'Est Jersey (16/1), Total Recall (16/1), Acapella Bourgeois (18/1), Isleofhopendreams (20/1), Measureofmydreams (20/1), Kimberlite Candy (20/1), Bellow Mome (25/1), Roaring Bull (25/1), Minella Rocco (28/1), Woods Well (33/1), A Toi Phil (33/1), General Principle (33/1), Dounikos (33/1), Valseur Lido (40/1), Arkwrisht (50/1), Forever Gold (50/1), Out Sam (66/1), Monbeg Notorious (66/1), Blow By Blow (66/1)

A renewal with no out and out front runner, so it may be left to the likes of Acapella Bourgeois, Blow By Blow, Gun Digger, Whisperinthebreeze and Bellow Mome to be up making the running in the early stages. Trainer Gordon Elliott won the race 12 months ago with General Principle, who can go well once again, but the handlers, WOODS WELL has been improving of late, winning a Leopardstown handicap chase over 2m5½f before running well in defeat in the Topham chase finishing fifth of 27 behind Cadmium. Pulled up in this contest, 12 months ago, the eight-year-old, who has never fallen, looks a good each-way proposition here. Pairofbrowneyes, Any Second Now and Gun Digger look big Dangers.