14:10 Leopardstown

Saturday 6 February 2021

All13:0513:3514:1014:4515:1515:5016:25

Patrick Ward & Co. Solicitors Irish Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 4m 23.5s

Blackbow^h,t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| C| D

40/1

Winning chase debut at Navan in November but 27½ lengths third to Energumene at Naas on his completed start since.

Form: F42-1F3

Captain Guinness²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 150

10/1

Came a long way in a short space of time over hurdles last term. Has also quickly developed into a smart chaser but Energumene was way too good for him at Naas.

Form: 12B-P12

Darver Star^t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 155| D

8/1

Smart hurdler. Similar standard over fences but has 4½ lengths to make up on Franco De Port from when they clashed here over Christmas.

Form: 323-132

Embittered^t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 144

40/1

Smart form when second of 3 in Navan Grade 2 in December but trailed in 21 lengths fourth to Franco De Port in Racing Post here over Christmas.

Form: 363-224

Energumene²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 159

5/6

Very exciting prospect who made it 2-2 over fences when readily accounting for Captain Guinness at Naas last month. Looks out of the top drawer.

Form: 1/311-11

Felix Desjy⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 155| BF| D

9/1

Smart effort to win Punchestown Grade 2 in November but not in same form when 13½ lengths third of 6 to Franco De Port in Racing Post here since.

Form: 1/2-F113

Franco De Port⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 156| CD

5/1

Made it 2-2 over fences when seeing off a few of these rivals in Grade 1 here in December. Could have an even bigger performance in him but it'll likely be required to seriously trouble Energumene.

Form: 172P-11

I'm A Game Changer^h,t³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: A McNamara| OR: 134| D

200/1

Unreliable hurdler/chaser for Gordon Elliott who is without a win since 2018. Tailed-off third behind Al Boum Photo on yard debut and out of his depth again here.

Form: 26-2343

Unexcepted¹⁰⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| D

10/1

Created very good impression when making all in Tipperary maiden chase in October. Pitched in at the deep end on his return but he's likely more than capable of making his mark at this level.

Form: 3/12P-1

Forecasts

Energumene (5/6), Franco De Port (5/1), Darver Star (8/1), Felix Desjy (9/1), Unexcepted (10/1), Captain Guinness (10/1), Blackbow (40/1), Embittered (40/1), I'm A Game Changer (200/1)

Douvan and Un De Sceaux feature on the recent roll of honour in this for the Willie Mullins yard and ENERGUMENE could well be of a similar calibre based on the way he took care of Captain Guinness at Naas last month. His stablemates Unexcepted and Franco de Port, who won a Grade 1 here over Christmas, can battle it out for minor honours.