16:00 Leopardstown

Sunday 2 February 2020

All12:5513:2513:5514:3015:0015:3016:0016:35

Gaelic Plant Hire Leopardstown Handicap Chase (Grade A)

Off time: 16:03 | Winning time: 5m 38.60s

Yorkhill⁶⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| C| D

16/1

Grade 1 winner over both hurdles and fences. Lost his form since winning a 16K chase at Galway in August. Appeared lost and disinterested in three starts towards the end of the year. Trainer last won this race in 2001 with Mickos Dream.

Form: 0U1P4F

Any Second Now^b³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Mark Walsh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 150

14/1

Still in touch when badly hampered and unseated rider four out at this venue in the Paddy Power chase over Christmas. Trainer has won this race on a couple of occasions in the last eight years with Seabass (2012) and Foxrock (2015).

Form: 31F-62U

Robin Des Foret³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149| D

10/1

Not disgraced in a couple of starts since returning to action in December. Not the greatest race for leading trainer, last win coming in the 2001 renewal.

Form: 2F32-36

Articulum^t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: K J Brouder⁽³⁾| T: T O'Brien| OR: 148

12/1

Running with credit in defeat over hurdles and fences towards the end of the year but has has failed to complete on his two latest starts over the larger obstacles at Limerick over Christmas and more recently at Fairyhouse last month.

Form: 3-P23FU

Fitzhenry^b³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Geraghty| T: P Nolan| OR: 141| BF

8/1

Excellent second of 27 in the Grade B Paddy Power chase at this track over 3m in December, going down by ½L to an energized Roaring Bull. Yard among the winners here yesterday with Latest Exhibition and one for any shortlist.

Form: 34-5322

Blazer²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| BF| C

16/1

Has won just one of his 10 starts over the larger obstacles. Lightly raced in the last 12 months and may need a few to falter. Trainer saddled the runner-up in last years renewal but have not landed the spoils in this contest since 2001.

Form: 80630-5

Moonshine Bay^p³⁰⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 140

20/1

Solid and consistent sort who has won one of his five starts over the larger obstacles, the victory coming in a beginners contest at Thurles in December. Beaten since in Graded company but worth a check in the market on handicap debut.

Form: 414P44-

Listen Dear³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 138

66/1

Winner of four of her 14 starts over fences but the manner of three defeats since November is a major concern, beaten over 34L on each occasion. Leading yard have not won this race since 2001 but saddled the second and fourth in last years renewal.

Form: 461230

Kitten Rock^p1³³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: D J McInerney| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 137

66/1

Solid sort over hurdles but has been difficult to keep sound last few seasons. Never a factor on return to action over the larger obstacles at Punchestown finishing a well beaten sixth of seven in December. First-time cheekpieces on.

Form: 32F2/0-6

Last Goodbye^b,t¹⁰⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: Miss E Doyle| OR: 137| CD

25/1

Winner of this contest two years ago - 10th of 13 last year - but has not won since in 10 starts and the C&D victor still finds himself racing 2lb higher than his last winning mark. Hard to entertain his chances in this contest.

Form: 500-639

Dallas Des Pictons²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 135| C

8/1

Solid 148-rated hurdler the gelding has made a pleasing start over the larger obstacles for connections winning at the first time of asking at Gowran Park in October. Leading connections last won this race in 2017 with A Toi Phil.

Form: 120-153

Mr Diablo^t⁷⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 134| CD

25/1

Popular veteran winner of two of his 18 starts over fences including victory in a Grade B contest at this venue over a similar trip in March 2017. Lightly raced in the last 12 months and unlikely to make significant impact in a race of this nature.

Form: 02582-7

Shady Operator^b,t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 134

7/1

Well held behind A Plus Tard at Cheltenham, and failed to finish in Irish Grand National on final novice outing. Not disgraced in handicap company since October and capable of having his say here.

Form: 47P-303

Trainwreck³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: E Walsh| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 134| C

33/1

Best effort over fences when third of 9 to Us And Them in maiden at Navan last season, but not gone on from that and prone to errors. Six-race maiden over fences and still looking no nearer to breakthrough success.

Form: F-08430

Punches Cross^b,t1⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 132

33/1

Improving sort, shaping well in a number of starts over the larger obstacles including a win at Wexford in October over 2m4f off an 11lb lower mark. One of ten in the contest for leading owner.

Form: 054512

At The Acorn^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Phillip Enright| T: A J Martin| OR: 131| D

9/2

Off the mark at the fifth time of asking for connections when landing a Fairyhouse 2m5½f contest on soft ground last month. Yard last tasted success in this race in 1999 but have a major chance here.

Form: 2-68461

Minella Times^t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 131

9/1

Running well since returning to action in October, winning for the first time over fences at Navan before another bold effort to finish second of 16 in a 27K contest at Limerick over Christmas. Could turn out to be a lively outsider.

Form: 924212

Portmore Lough^t1⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Simon Torrens⁽⁷⁾| T: J E Kiely| OR: 131

8/1

Solid sort, winner of two of his six starts over the larger obstacles those wins coming quickly at Galway in October. Beaten since but capable of giving a good account in this contest. Progressive, one of 10 in the event for leading owner.

Form: 372-113

Scoir Mear³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: N P Madden| T: T Mullins| OR: 130

50/1

Miserly return of one win from 18 starts over fences. Nothing of note in four dismal efforts since November and may find this a tough assignment. Another one of 10 runners in the contest for owner.

Form: B76660

The Caddy Rose^p⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: C P McNamara⁽⁵⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 126

50/1

Impressive on debut over fences when winning by an easy 4L at Navan in September. Fourth of 10 in a 9K novice handicap chase at Naas last month beaten 15L. Plenty to prove in this contest.

Form: 44-1244

Chavi Artist²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: J M Moore| T: T Mullins| OR: 125

14/1

Off the mark for connections at the seventh time of asking over the larger obstacles when landing a Punchestown 2m4f handicap last month on soft ground off a 9lb lower mark. Life more difficult from his revised mark.

Form: 006B51

Glamorgan Duke^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: C D Maxwell| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 125

33/1

Not disgraced in four starts over fences since making his debut in October. Recent effort at Thurles last month caught the eye but the Flemensfirth gelding requires a chunk of improvement to play a role here.

Form: 434253

Ice Cold Soul^p,t¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-11| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 125| C

33/1

Gained a first win over fences at Thurles last time out and a 5lb rise is manageable but will need to improve to have a say in this company.

Form: 4404/71

Noble Emperor^t²⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 9-10| J: M A Enright| T: A J Martin| OR: 123| D

50/1

Veteran who has won just one of his 11 starts over fences. Never a factor in three starts since returning from a three year absence in November. Yard last won this race in 1999 with Hollybank Buck.

Form: 522/8P6

Forecasts

At The Acorn (9/2), Shady Operator (7/1), Fitzhenry (8/1), Dallas Des Pictons (8/1), Portmore Lough (8/1), Minella Times (9/1), Robin Des Foret (10/1), Articulum (12/1), Any Second Now (14/1), Chavi Artist (14/1), Blazer (16/1), Yorkhill (16/1), Moonshine Bay (20/1), Last Goodbye (25/1), Mr Diablo (25/1), Glamorgan Duke (33/1), Trainwreck (33/1), Ice Cold Soul (33/1), Punches Cross (33/1), The Caddy Rose (50/1), Scoir Mear (50/1), Noble Emperor (50/1), Kitten Rock (66/1), Listen Dear (66/1)

The Paul Nolan-trained FITZHENRY can build on a fine second of 27 in the Grade B Paddy Power chase at this track over 3m in December when headed in the final strides by Roaring Bull. The Flemensfirth gelding can get the better of another couple of J P McManus-owned runners in the shape of Portmore Lough who continues to improve since a quick-fire double at Galway in October and the Ted Walsh-trained Any Second Now who was still in contention when badly hampered and unseated rider four out in the Grade B Paddy Power chase in December. At The Acorn, Dallas Des Pictons and Robin Des Foret should not be underestimated.