Liam & Valerie Brennan Memorial Florida Pearl Novice Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 59.00s

Any Second Now^b¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 150| C

8/1

Winner of the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival (3m2f) before falling when fancied for the Irish National here. Subdued return latest at Cork but can come forward plenty and his experience edge is a bonus; respected.

Form: 2531F-6

Battleoverdoyen^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| C| D

2/5

Won his first four races including Grade 1 novices hurdle before flopping at Cheltenham Festival as favourite. Smooth success at Galway on chase debut however and could easily develop into Ireland's best staying novice.

Form: 1/111P-1

Dandy Mag¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| D

14/1

Winner at Galway (2m6½f) on chase debut before fifth and fourth placed finishes in Grade 3s the last twice. Must up his game at this level.

Form: 613/154

Ex Patriot¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: Miss Ellmarie Holden| OR: 146

7/1

Dual chase winner last season and had a couple of these behind when second on return in a Cork Grade 3. Progressive sort and expected to make his presence felt again here despite another class rise.

Form: 5/5411-2

Minella Fair^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade| OR: 142| C

12/1

Full-brother to smart staying chaser Time For Rupert got off the mark over fences at the second time of asking at Limerick before struggling behind smart Real Steel in a Down Royal Grade 2. Career-best needed to make the frame.

Form: 531/6-13

Sayo^t1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| BF

12/1

Fragile but classy sort won by 24L at Galway leading to him being 6/4F against three of these rivals in a Cork Grade 3 but he finished last and was found to have respiratory issues. Could bounce back but comes with risks.

Form: 13/P418

Swordsman³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: R M Power| T: G Elliott

25/1

Lightly raced five-year-old made a winning start over fences at Roscommon before falling early on here last time out when racing in third. Hopefully bounce back and almost certain his best days lie ahead.

Form: 214P-1F

Forecasts

Battleoverdoyen (2/5), Ex Patriot (7/1), Any Second Now (8/1), Minella Fair (12/1), Sayo (12/1), Dandy Mag (14/1), Swordsman (25/1)

Gordon Elliott has always held BATTLEOVERDOYEN in the highest regard and barring his Albert Bartlett blip the young star remains unbeaten. After impressing greatly at Galway last time he can stamp himself a top class novice by winning this Grade 2 contest. Although he has his issues as shown last time out Sayo may well be the biggest danger with his demolition job the time before not easily forgotten. A low-key start to the campaign shouldn't mean Cheltenham Festival winning chaser Any Second Now is taken lightly either.