15:15 Naas

Sunday 8 March 2020

All14:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:5017:20

MansionBet 'GetItReady' For Cheltenham Leinster National Handicap Chase (Grade A)

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 6m 45.80s

Chef Des Obeaux^p⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: M P Fogarty| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150

12/1

Lightly raced this term. Pulled up on latest start in a Gowran Park 3m1f handicap chase in January. Place claims in this company. Yard won this contest 12 months ago with Pairofbrowneyes.

Form: U1P-45P

Dounikos¹⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: K Brogan⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 149

33/1

Pulled up in both the Grand National at Aintree and the Irish equivalent in April last year. Disappointed on sole start this term back in October at Punchestown and hard to make a case for in this contest.

Form: 7F1PP-5

Monbeg Notorious^v⁷²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 142| D

14/1

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. Now racing 8lb lower than last winning mark with jockey booking the only positive.

Form: 06PP-70

Bonbon Au Miel^t⁷²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 138

16/1

Lightly-raced in the last three years. One from three over fences but not seen since falling in the Grade 1 RSA at the 2018 Cheltenham festival. Possibly best watched in the market for patient connections.

Form: 21P41F/

Choungaya^t⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 138

11/1

Has failed to build on a pleasing chasing debut at Naas in November in a 2m3f beginners contest, disappointing when beaten a long way in a number of starts since. More needed but no surprise to witness improvement.

Form: F7-244U

Cap York^b⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: E Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: N Meade| OR: 133| D

11/1

Not disgraced when running with plenty of credit in the Grade B Paddy Power chase at Leopardstown over 3m in December. Could find one or two better handicapped sorts lurking.

Form: 8F2989

Shady Operator^b,t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: J S McGarvey| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 133

10/1

One from nine starts over the larger obstacles proceeding to hit the frame on a further three occasions. Beaten 12L on latest encouraging start at Leopardstown last month in a Grade A handicap chase. One for the shortlist.

Form: 7P-3038

General Principle^b,t¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-5| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 131| D

11/1

Popular veteran, winner of the 2018 Irish Grand National off an 8lb higher mark. Not won since and will need to raise overall profile to play a role in the finish in this contest.

Form: FP-PP84

Castle Oliver¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: P Roche| OR: 129| C

11/4

Took a while to get the hang of things over fences but proved himself to be a progressive sort by winning his last three starts, winning a Grade B novice chase over 2m4f at this venue last month off a 9lb lower mark.

Form: 090111

Space Cadet¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: G O'Loughlin| OR: 128| D

20/1

Won two point-to-point starts late last year but struggled to translate that form under rules in three wretched efforts so far, failing to complete on both of his last two starts. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: P-114PF

Cheb De Kerviniou^t1¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: G Elliott| OR: 126| BF

9/2

Late import from France the veteran has been running with credit in three starts for current connections since the start of the year. Market likely to reveal expectations.

Form: 2-84233

Ah Littleluck^t⁵⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 9-13| J: K J Brouder| T: T Gibney| OR: 125| D

16/1

Inconsistent and unreliable sort has failed to finish three of his last six starts over the larger obstacles. Others make more appeal.

Form: FP43P5

Mon Lino^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: N P Madden| T: P Nolan| OR: 125| CD

20/1

Mixed form over hurdles and fences but was second in a valuable handicap chase at Fairyhouse at the start of December running well behind Killer Miller in a Grade B contest. Well held since and faces a tough task.

Form: 07020P

Red Jack²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade| OR: 120| C

8/1

Regular at this venue, winning on a couple of occasions over hurdles. Without a win in seven starts over the larger obstacles and appears to have a mountain to climb in a race of this nature.

Form: 6F9FU3

Non-Runners

The Long Mile¹

Weight: 9-12| Age: 6

T: J P Dempsey J: L P Dempsey

Forecasts

Castle Oliver (11/4), Cheb De Kerviniou (9/2), The Long Mile (9/2), Red Jack (8/1), Shady Operator (10/1), Cap York (11/1), General Principle (11/1), Choungaya (11/1), Chef Des Obeaux (12/1), Monbeg Notorious (14/1), Bonbon Au Miel (16/1), Ah Littleluck (16/1), Mon Lino (20/1), Space Cadet (20/1), Dounikos (33/1)

The Gordon Elliott-trained CHEB DE KERVINIOU can improve on his first three starts in Ireland to land the spoils in this Grade A contest. The Simon Munir/Isaac Souede-owned gelding finished a gallant third of 19 in the Grade B Grand National trial at Punchestown last month and can get the better of one of the J P McManus runners, Red Jack who ran with great credit in defeat at this venue last month over a shorter trip. Castle Oliver who is on a four-timer and Shady Operator should not be easily dismissed, while Ah Littleluck can go well at a price.