Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 6m 32.2s

Envoi Allen^t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 164| BF| C

6/4

Top-class prospect who was unbeaten (including 3 chases) until falling early on when 4/9 at the Cheltenham Festival on first start for Henry de Bromhead. That doesn't dent his enormous potential.

Form: 11-111F

Franco De Port²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153

40/1

Smart chaser who won a Leopardstown Grade 1 in December but his limitations have been exposed since and he'll surely come up short again unless improving significantly for 3m.

Form: P-11252

Monkfish⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 163

10/11

Albert Bartlett winner in novice hurdle campaign and has taken it up another notch over fences this season, comfortably landing all 4 starts, 3 of them Grade 1s. Will continue to prove hard to beat.

Form: 11-1111

Colreevy³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 158| C

7/1

4-4 over fences, including seeing off stablemate Elimay to land the inaugural running of Mares' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Will require an outstanding performance to keep winning run going.

Form: 25-1111

Forecasts

Monkfish (10/11), Envoi Allen (6/4), Colreevy (7/1), Franco De Port (40/1)

Only 4 runners but it's surely one of the most eagerly anticipated novice chases for a long time, with outstanding pair MONKFISH and Envoi Allen clashing. The former hasn't put a foot wrong this season and is narrowly preferred to a rival who will hopefully get his career firmly back on track after his early departure at the Cheltenham Festival.