17:00 Fairyhouse

Sunday 4 April 2021

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2517:0017:30

Underwriting Exchange Gold Cup Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 5m 15.0s

Andy Dufresne⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 149| D

3/1

Smart chaser. 11/1, creditable 17 lengths third of 8 to Monkfish in Flogas Novices' Chase at Leopardstown (21.4f, soft) 56 days ago. Leading claims.

Form: 213-113

Asterion Forlonge¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153| D

7/4

Smart chaser. Good 5 lengths third of 8 to Chantry House in Golden Miller Novices' Chase at Cheltenham (good to soft, 14/1) 17 days ago. Leading claims.

Form: 4-1FF43

Cedarwood Road³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: G O'Loughlin| OR: 143| D

9/1

Chased home The Big Getaway at Leopardstown before easily getting off the mark in Gowran maiden last month. Can make his mark at a higher level.

Form: 611-721

Conflated^h²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: Mrs D Foster| OR: 145| C| D

15/2

Smart chaser. Career best when winning 4-runner Grade 3 novice at Naas (20.4f, heavy) 21 days ago by 21 lengths from Waitnsee. Another who can't be discounted.

Form: 4-32131

Franco De Port¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 154

8/1

Smart chaser (won Leopardstown Grade 1 in December). Couldn't live with the pace when 39½ lengths last of 5 to Shishkin in Arkle at Cheltenham so step up in trip looks a logical move.

Form: 2P-1125

I'm A Game Changer^h,t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: A McNamara| OR: 139

80/1

Unreliable individual. Career best when winning 7-runner Grade 3 chase at Thurles (18f, good to soft, 14/1) 15 days ago by 8 lengths from Whatsnotoknow. This demands more.

Form: 343531

Janidil⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J S McGarvey| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| C

12/1

Smart chaser. Fell in Flogas Novices' Chase (28/1) at Leopardstown (21.4f, soft) 56 days ago won by Monkfish yet to be asked for effort when fell 4 out too far out to suggest outcome.

Form: 115-13F

January Jets⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 140

28/1

7/2, pretty smart effort when winning 9-runner maiden at Leopardstown (17f, soft) 98 days ago, easily. Trainer going well. Another who has to enter the reckoning.

Form: 3-15231

Scarlet And Dove²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Donagh Meyler| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 140| D

8/1

Useful chaser. 3 wins from 6 runs this season. Didn't need to improve to win 7-runner Dawn Run Mares Novices' Chase (8/11) at Limerick (22.6f, heavy) 21 days ago by 7 lengths from Minx Tiara.

Form: 221F11

Forecasts

Asterion Forlonge (7/4), Andy Dufresne (3/1), Conflated (15/2), Franco De Port (8/1), Scarlet And Dove (8/1), Cedarwood Road (9/1), Janidil (12/1), January Jets (28/1), I'm A Game Changer (80/1)

Willie Mullins is going for a hat-trick in this race and recent Cheltenham Festival third ASTERION FORLONGE may be able to provide it. Denise Foster pair Andy Dufresne and Conflated may provide the main opposition in what looks an open renewal of this Grade 1.