Poplar Square Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:21 | Winning time: 4m 8.10s

Felix Desjy³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 153| D

9/2

Temperamental sort who landed back-to-back chase events this time last year. Feasible to think last month's hurdle return at Tipperary was needed but jumping needs to hold up back over fences.

Form: 1138F-4

Andy Dufresne²¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: G Elliott| OR: 149| D

9/4

Smart chaser who landed Navan Grade 3 prior to finishing third behind Monkfish in Grade 1 Flogas last winter. Disappointed at Fairyhouse final start but bounce back distinctly possible now.

Form: 13/113P-

Captain Guinness¹⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 152| D

6/5

Smart chaser who proved too free when third in last season's Arkle and in process of running below form when unseating last at Punchestown in April. However, another expected to be back to form here.

Form: P12F3U-

Darver Star^t¹⁸⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: L P Dempsey| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 150| BF

7/1

Smart hurdler who shaped with plenty of promise initially over fences last season, runner-up in Grade 1 on Boxing Day. Not in same form thereafter though, including over hurdles in the spring.

Form: 32776-6

Choungaya^b,t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: P J Carberry| T: A McNamara| OR: 127| D

50/1

Useful hurdler. who is proving more miss than hit over fences, only seventh of 10 in novice chase (18/1) at Galway (18.2f, heavy) 14 days ago. Likely vulnerable. Blinkers replace cheekpieces.

Form: 4-07047

Serpolette^h⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: D F O'Regan| T: E D Delany| OR: 100

125/1

Modest chaser. 22/1, eighth of 9 in handicap chase at Down Royal (16.4f, soft) 8 days ago, dropping away quickly. Hard to fancy in this line up.

Form: P-39708

Forecasts

Captain Guinness (6/5), Andy Dufresne (9/4), Felix Desjy (9/2), Darver Star (7/1), Choungaya (50/1), Serpolette (125/1)

CAPTAIN GUINNESS was in the process of running below form prior to unseating in Grade 1 company at Punchestown back in the spring. However, he'd previously made up in to a smart chaser and is well worth another chance to get back on the up. Andy Dufresne's only disappointment to date came at Fairyhouse in April and he's expected to pose the chief threat.