BoyleSports Grand National Festival John & Chich Fowler Memorial EBF Mares Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 5m 18.70s

Camelia De Cotte^h⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143| BF| D

13/8

Winner of five of her seven starts over fences. The mare possibly was doing too much in front on her last start when easily beaten by Kaiser Black at Naas last month. Should be among the leading players.

Form: 141112

Pravalaguna⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| D

2/1

Two from four starts over hurdles and can be forgiven her defeat in the Grade 1 Pertemps final at the Cheltenham festival last month finishing well behind Defi Du Seuil in the JLT novices' chase. Gets 5lb from stablemate with stable jockey up.

Form: 41-4119

Barra^t²⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Flanagan| T: G Elliott| C

8/1

140-rated hurdler who looks an exciting prospect for leading trainer and connections over the larger obstacles when winning in facile fashion in a Kilbeggan beginners contest over 2m6f when last seen in July. Big ask on return to action.

Form: 42365-1

Jaime Sommers⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Brian Hayes| T: M J Bowe| OR: 118| D

50/1

Detached from five out before being pulled up before two out following a five month break at Tramore earlier this month. Still only one from 11 over fences on has plenty to find on a September clash with Camelia De Cotte.

Form: 33443P

Slowmotion^b⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 140| CD

3/1

Three from 13 over fences including a C&D win on her sole start over the combination in this race two years ago. The mare has been a little out of form since February return but could appreciate return to this venue.

Form: 6-46P35

Synopsis^t⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 134

20/1

Fairly bolted up over 2m4f at Cheltenham in December but disappointed at Huntingdon and Naas in February when finishing 24L adrift of Pravalaguna. Tough ask and unlikely to reverse positions.

Form: 3-691P5

Forecasts

Camelia De Cotte (13/8), Pravalaguna (2/1), Slowmotion (3/1), Barra (8/1), Synopsis (20/1), Jaime Sommers (50/1)

Introduced in 2008 the race has been won by nine different trainers in the 10 years of the contest, with only Joseph O'Brien and Willie Mullins on the scoreboard from the trainers with runners here. PRAVALAGUNA the mount of Ruby Walsh can be expected to improve on her win at Naas in February with a below-par run at the Cheltenham festival in March quickly forgotten. Stablemate Camelia De Cotte under Gold Cup winning jockey Paul Townend looks the biggest danger while Slowmotion, winner of this race two years ago can also worry to main protagonists.