19:10 Punchestown

Wednesday 1 May 2019

All15:4016:2016:5517:3018:0518:4019:1019:45

Guinness Handicap Chase (Grade A)

Off time: 19:10 | Winning time: 5m 18.6s

Jett^p⁹^{(ex 9)}

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 144| D

9/1

Useful handicapper over fences, and appeared to run above himself when winning Grade 2 Devenish Chase at Fairyhouse last time. Had the run of the race there, though, and a 9lb penalty demands more.

Form: U74331

Class Conti^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 147

5/2

Useful at his best in France for Donatien Sourdeau De Beauregard, and much improved on debut for new yard when winning a conditions chase at Tramore last month. That was on heavy ground, but he's respected given the impression he made there.

Form: 462FP-1

O O Seven^b²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 147| D

16/1

Not built on a reappearance win at Doncaster in December, and reportedly bled when eighth to Cadmium in 27-runner Topham Chase at Aintree last time, which tempers confidence.

Form: P3-1908

Goulane Chosen³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: S Spillane| OR: 146| D

33/1

Built on a couple of solid efforts when beating Tycoon Prince narrowly at Limerick (2m1½f) last time. Up again in the weights for that, and others look better treated now.

Form: 7U4221

Sizing Granite^p,t¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽³⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 144| CD

10/1

Won this race in 2017, but hard to predict these days. Bounced back to form when 7L second of 13 to Born Survivor in Listed handicap chase at Ayr last time, but needs to show he can reproduce that form.

Form: 066502

Livelovelaugh²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| C| D

7/1

Unsurprisingly failed to stay in the Grand National last time, and all his best form is at around this trip. Best judged on good second to Whisperinthebreeze in Leopardstown Handicap Chase in February over 2m5f, and one to bear in mind.

Form: 3F-P200

Ben Dundee^t⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 138| CD

7/1

Won over C&D in November, and back to form when third to impressive winner A Plus Tard at Cheltenham in March. Claims with a repeat of that effort, for all he's not the most consistent.

Form: 31PF63

War Sound⁶⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 138| D

10/1

Gained a belated first chase win at Aintree in November, but he hasn't been in the same form since, and possibly flattered by how that race was run. Needs an overly strong pace for him to get involved.

Form: 22-1080

Fitzhenry^b⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: P Nolan| OR: 135| D

8/1

Has made the frame on all three starts over fences this season, and no knocking his consistency. Didn't quite get home in National Trial over 3m5f here last time, but this marked drop in trip may be too far the other way.

Form: 12-6334

Oscar Knight^p1⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: J S McGarvey| T: T Mullins| OR: 135| CD

16/1

Pulled up in the Kerry national on his only chase start this season, and not in the best form over hurdles. Now 1lb lower than when third in this last year, and cheekpieces tried, but has a bit to prove.

Form: 3-8P670

Blast Of Koeman^b,t¹²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| OR: 132| CD

6/1

Last chase win came in 2017, but second in this last year, and he ended a losing run when scoring over hurdles here in December. A stone higher back over fences, but fairly treated on pick of chase form if he's fit and firing.

Form: 55F351

Monatomic¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott| OR: 130

18/1

Belatedly off the mark over fences at Down Royal (2m) in January, but has failed to finish the last twice, and tends to be a weak finisher at this trip.

Form: 51F2FP

Non-Runners

Supreme Vinnie¹⁸⁴

Weight: 10-0| Age: 10

T: Miss D O'Shea J: Rachael Blackmore

Forecasts

Class Conti (5/2), Blast Of Koeman (6/1), Livelovelaugh (7/1), Ben Dundee (7/1), Fitzhenry (8/1), Jett (9/1), Sizing Granite (10/1), War Sound (10/1), O O Seven (16/1), Oscar Knight (16/1), Monatomic (18/1), Supreme Vinnie (20/1), Goulane Chosen (33/1)

Hopefully a run in the Grand National won't take the edge off LIVELOUGHLAUGH, as he is clearly better at this sort of trip and can bounce back to form with conditions more suitable. Stablemate Class Conti is an obvious alternative after a facile win on his debut for Willie Mullins, with Blast of Koeman capable of reprising his narrow defeat in this last year after scoring over hurdles here in December.