14:35 Leopardstown

Saturday 1 February 2020

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:20

Matheson Handicap Chase (0-150) (Grade B)

Off time: 14:37 | Winning time: 4m 17.7s

Duca De Thaix^p,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| D

50/1

Won back-to-back races around this time last year but struggling of late and looks in the grip of the handicapper for now.

Form: 33-5439

Paloma Blue^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 147| CD

6/1

C&D winner in 2018 and not disgraced in last year's Arkle but only seen three times since and didn't shaped like a return to the winner's enclosure was near at Ascot last time; others preferred.

Form: 416-623

Avenir D'Une Vie^p,t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 144| D

9/1

Impressive winner on his return to fences in November and posted a solid effort in defeat when runner-up at Fairyhouse last time; probably wants softer ground to be seen at his best.

Form: 215012

Goulane Chosen²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: D J McInerney| T: S Spillane| OR: 143| D

33/1

Just 1lb above his last winning mark but would need a career best to land a blow in this and while he ran well when third of 14 at Fairyhouse last time, he can make jumping errors and he's opposable here.

Form: 221-753

Snugsborough Hall^h²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: D F O'Regan| T: L P Cusack| OR: 143| CD

6/1

Won three of his last four starts over fences and warmed up for this with a fair fourth over hurdles at Cork last month. 16lb higher than his latest success but looks progressive and should make his presence felt again.

Form: 311C-14

Eclair De Beaufeu⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 140

8/1

Wide margin winner of a 10 runner beginners' chase at Wexford in October; has made bad jumping errors in two subsequent starts but on a workable mark for handicap debut here.

Form: U6-2143

Charlie Stout^t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: S Nolan| OR: 136| D

8/1

Consistent sort who was unlucky when carried out here two starts ago but gained compensation at Fairyhouse in January; up 5lb but should go well again.

Form: 2123C1

Or Jaune De Somoza^p³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 136| D

25/1

At his best on quick ground, as seen when winning at Listowel in September; jumping not always fluent though, as seen here last time out and that has to be a concern in a race this competitive.

Form: 232819

Quamino^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan| OR: 136| CD

10/1

Won this race last year and while he hasn't scored since, he would have been unsuited by the test last time out. 2lb below that winning mark and could run a big race.

Form: P2-P659

Debuchet²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 133| BF| C

11/2

Winner on chase debut but a beaten favourite twice since; albeit running well in defeat; less exposed than most and one for the shortlist here.

Form: 220-123

Rock The World^p,t³⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 10-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 126| D

20/1

Losing run goes back to Cheltenham Festival in 2017 and while his handicap mark is on the slide, he also looks regressive. Needs to come on markedly from his comeback run.

Form: 454-378

Allardyce^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 121

16/1

Gained a third chase win and his second of the season at Naas last time out; hit by a 5lb rise and the runner-up did the form no favours subsequently.

Form: 079131

Niccolai^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 121| D

16/1

Came on from her debut over fences when impressive at Clonmel and didn't show her best form at Limerick subsequently. Better ground might suit and opening mark looks fair.

Form: 710-614

Batcio³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: L P Dempsey| T: T M Walsh| OR: 118| D

6/1

Gained a first win over fences at Clonmel in December and unlucky not to follow up here when runner-up (front two pulled a long way clear); up 4lb but a reproduction of that run should see him go close.

Form: P53912

Grand Partner²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 9-10| J: J M Moore| T: T Mullins| OR: 116| C

33/1

Yet to win in 13 starts over fences and very difficult to make a case for him here from out of the handicap.

Form: 43-4P65

Non-Runners

Ice Cold Soul¹³

Weight: 10-2| Age: 10

T: N Meade J: E Walsh

Forecasts

Debuchet (11/2), Paloma Blue (6/1), Batcio (6/1), Snugsborough Hall (6/1), Eclair De Beaufeu (8/1), Charlie Stout (8/1), Avenir D'Une Vie (9/1), Quamino (10/1), Ice Cold Soul (10/1), Niccolai (16/1), Allardyce (16/1), Rock The World (20/1), Or Jaune De Somoza (25/1), Goulane Chosen (33/1), Grand Partner (33/1), Duca De Thaix (50/1)

BATCIO is in good form and he could still be well-handicapped, despite a rise in the weights for a defeat last time out. The only mare in the race, Niccolai, has claims on her handicap debut here and last year's winner Quamino is another for the shortlist now back below his last winning handicap mark.