14:55 Leopardstown

Friday 27 December 2019

All12:0512:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Paddy Power Chase (Extended Handicap Chase) (0-150) (Grade B)

Off time: 14:58 | Winning time: 6m 24.50s

Any Second Now^b⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 150

9/1

Winner of the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival (3m2f) before falling when fancied for the Irish National. Runner-up in Grade 2 at Punchestown last month, and has claims despite his big weight.

Form: 531F-62

Chef Des Obeaux^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: M P Fogarty| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149

25/1

Winning chaser for Niicky Henderson, but looks poorly handicapped on what he has achieved in this sphere, and well held starting out for new yard at Fairyhouse.

Form: P/3U1P-4

Winter Escape³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: A A Howard| OR: 148

20/1

Beat A Plus Tard in a Grade 3 novice at Punchestown in January before failing to bridge the gap to Grade 1 class. Fair third on seasonal reappearance at Tipperary, but failed to stay when sixth in the Troytown at Navan last time.

Form: 153-P36

Class Conti^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: S G McDermott| T: W P Mullins| OR: 147

50/1

Has a poor completion record, but not with this yard long, and did win at Tramore in April. Needed the run over hurdles on his return, and may do better, for all he's not obviously well treated.

Form: 2FP/1-P5

Monbeg Notorious^v²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 146| D

50/1

Useful staying handicap chaser at his best, but has been in a few dogfights, and he seems to have lost his way as a result. Beaten 50L when seventh of 15 to Killer Miller at Fairyhouse last time.

Form: 006PP-7

Poker Party¹⁰⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 146| D

9/1

Regained progressive profile when winning Kerry National at Listowel last time by a head from Ravenhill. No reason why he won't continue to give a solid account, and could yet do better.

Form: 211-3U1

Robin Des Foret¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146

14/1

Three wins over fences at shorter, but seemed to stay 3m when second in a Grade 3 at Limerick in March. Returned with an excellent third of 13 to Warthog in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham last time, and respected on that.

Form: 12F32-3

Livelovelaugh²⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144| D

25/1

Failed to stay, but shaped well in the Grand National on penultimate start, and ran well when second of 12 to O O Seven in Guinness Handicap Chase at Punchestown in May. Back up in trip, and almost certainly better short of 3m.

Form: F/P200-2

Cabaret Queen²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142| D

14/1

Showed much improved form when winning Munster National on penultimate start, but never happy at any stage in Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on quicker ground last time, and worth another chance, for all she's 23lb above her winning mark.

Form: 74-F21P

Listen Dear²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: D F O'Regan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141

50/1

Won a Listed hurdle over 2¾m in October, but stamina for this trip is far from assured, and she was a weak finisher when 36L third of 4 to Casablanca Mix over fences at Aintree last time.

Form: 3-46123

Minella Fair^t⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 140

12/1

Creditable third to Real Steel at Down Royal on penultimate start, but just a respectable fourth of 7 to Battleoverdoyen in Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novices' Chase at Punchestown last time, and has stamina to prove at this trip.

Form: 31/6-134

Tower Bridge^b1,t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 140| C

8/1

Fared best of the rest behind A Plus Tard at Cheltenham in March, and ran creditably when fourth on return to action. Failed badly to match that form in the Troytown at Navan last time, though, and needs to bounce back.

Form: 5322-4P

General Principle^b,t²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Ms L O'Neill| T: G Elliott| OR: 139| D

50/1

Former Irish National hero, but while he ran well once or twice last term, he's looked a shadow of his former self on his last few starts, and makes scant appeal here.

Form: 53PFP-P

Whisperinthebreeze^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 139| C| D

14/1

Won the valuable Leopardstown Handicap Chase over 2m5f last season before signing off with a ninth place finish in the Irish National. Below form at Navan last time, but may well do better back at this venue.

Form: 21F9-35

Vieux Morvan^b²⁹²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: O R Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 138

16/1

Easily best effort last season when runner-up in this race, and just 1lb higher now, so claims are clear to see, but other efforts make him much harder to fancy, and lacks a prep race this time.

Form: 8BP289-

Fitzhenry^b³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: B J Geraghty| T: P Nolan| OR: 137| D

6/1

Good third in this contest 12 months ago, and belatedly back to that form when second in the Troytown at Navan last month behind Chris's Dream. Should go close with that effort under his belt.

Form: 334-532

Quamino^t⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan| OR: 137| BF| C

25/1

Best effort this term when fifth in a 2m handicap hurdle at Navan last month. Best chase efforts have also come around that trip, and stamina for 3m must be taken on trust.

Form: 1P2-P65

Freewheelin Dylan^t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: C D Maxwell| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 136| D

25/1

Has won twice over fences this season, the latest off 6lb lower at Punchestown. Still improving on evidence of that run, but facing stiffer opposition now, and needs to find another career best.

Form: 7F1231

No Comment^h²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 136

15/2

Now 2lb lower than when a good fifth in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham in March, and 9lb better off with winner Any Second Now. Trip far too sharp at Newbury last time, but caught the eye, and looks to have been laid out for this.

Form: 36/55-35

Spider Web⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: N P Madden| T: T Mullins| OR: 136| C| D

20/1

Has failed to complete in three of his last six starts, but won the Munster National last year, and ran at least as well when second to Cabaret Queen in corresponding event this year. One to bear in mind after a 2lb rise.

Form: F1P3-P2

Plan Of Attack^p⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Phillip Enright| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 135| D

16/1

Has won his last two starts at 3m1f, at Wexford and in a novice handicap at Aintree in October, beating The Hollow Ginge. Clearly going the right way, and should be competitive off just 3lb higher.

Form: 820-211

Roaring Bull^b³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 135

16/1

Flattered by proximity when third in a Grade 3 at Limerick in March, and three starts since would suggest he will struggle in this company.

Form: 1636-30

Cap York⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Donagh Meyler| T: N Meade| OR: 134| D

16/1

Best effort so far over fences when second of 9 to Battleoverdoyen in maiden at Galway on penultimate start, but he ran well below that form last time, and looks up against it now handicapping.

Form: 99-8F29

Pont Aven⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: C P McNamara⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134| BF| D

25/1

Won on chase debut at Wexford over 3m1f in May, and in frame twice since. Made favourite for Cork National last time, but let down by jumping and that would be a concern in this big field.

Form: 1P-132P

Solomn Grundy³³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 134| D

16/1

Good fourth in this contest last year, and ran well on his next start, but he's gone like a horse with problems twice subsequently, and hard to back here as a result.

Form: 1/245P-0

Gun Digger^t,v¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 133| C

50/1

Won a maiden chase here last year, but he's pulled up on his last three starts over fences, and makes precious little appeal after that unfortunate sequence.

Form: FP-3PPP

Killer Miller²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade| OR: 133

20/1

Built on promise of his previous start when winning a 3m5f handicap at Fairyhouse last time by 1¾ lengths from Mon Lino. That was a dour performance, and he looks vulnerable back down in trip, especially as he can clout one.

Form: 9F/3U-41

Non-Runners

Blazer³²⁸

Weight: 11-1| Age: 8

T: W P Mullins J: J S McGarvey

Agusta Gold¹⁹

Weight: 10-7| Age: 6

T: Ms M Mullins J: Reserve 1

Scoir Mear²⁰

Weight: 10-7| Age: 9

T: T Mullins J: Reserve 2

Punches Cross⁴⁰

Weight: 10-6| Age: 6

T: J P O'Brien J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Fitzhenry (6/1), No Comment (15/2), Tower Bridge (8/1), Poker Party (9/1), Any Second Now (9/1), Minella Fair (12/1), Robin Des Foret (14/1), Cabaret Queen (14/1), Blazer (14/1), Agusta Gold (14/1), Whisperinthebreeze (14/1), Roaring Bull (16/1), Plan Of Attack (16/1), Solomn Grundy (16/1), Cap York (16/1), Vieux Morvan (16/1), Winter Escape (20/1), Spider Web (20/1), Punches Cross (20/1), Killer Miller (20/1), Chef Des Obeaux (25/1), Quamino (25/1), Freewheelin Dylan (25/1), Livelovelaugh (25/1), Pont Aven (25/1), Gun Digger (50/1), Listen Dear (50/1), Monbeg Notorious (50/1), Class Conti (50/1), General Principle (50/1), Scoir Mear (50/1)

The fact that NO COMMENT prepped for this by running over 2m at Newbury suggests that connections have this in mind for a while, and he is well treated based on an eyecatching fifth in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham in March. Dangers abound, headed by Kerry National winner Poker Party, and last year's third Fitzhenry, who was back to form in the Troytown Chase at Navan last time.