Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 4m 11.10s

Coeur Sublime²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Keith Donoghue| T: H De Bromhead

10/1

Smart hurdler for Gearoid O'Loughlin last term. Off 11 months but made promising chasing debut when 4l second to Ferny Hollow in novice at Punchestown (17f). Sure to do better. Considered.

Form: 130/47-2

Ferny Hollow^h²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

10/11

Champion Bumper scorer who beat Bob Olinger on his sole hurdles run at Gowran 13 months ago. Made light of his absence with ready win on chasing bow in Punchestown novice (17f). Top-class prospect.

Form: 2211/1-1

Gallant John Joe^p,t1⁶⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: B Browne| T: O McKiernan| OR: 149| BF

66/1

Useful hurdler/chaser but off 21 months since fair third in Naas Grade 3 chase. Tongue strap on, and he faces no easy comeback run here.

Form: 795233/

Grand Bornand^t¹⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| C

40/1

Useful hurdler who made a winning start in this sphere in 18f novice at Galway in July. Open to improvement after his break, but yard also have Ferny Hollow in here.

Form: 42190-1

Zoffanien¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: H Morgan| T: D Hogan

125/1

Useful hurdler but he failed to complete for second successive start over fences when falling 2 out (still in touch) in Naas novice 10 days ago. Has plenty on his plate here.

Form: 14-05UF

Riviere D'etel^h²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

5/4

Highly promising filly who easily made it 3-3 over fences in Grade 3 at Navan (17f) 22 days ago by 12 lengths from Take All. Fluent jumper who holds very good claims receiving weight all round.

Form: 137-111

Forecasts

Ferny Hollow (10/11), Riviere D'etel (5/4), Coeur Sublime (10/1), Grand Bornand (40/1), Gallant John Joe (66/1), Zoffanien (125/1)

FERNY HOLLOW has claimed some notable scalps in his stop-start career to date and Willie Mullins' former Champion Bumper winner is fancied to improve massively on his chasing debut success and end the unbeaten run of Riviere d'Etel. Gordon Elliott's filly has been foot perfect in her three runs over fences though and is sure to take some pegging back. Coeur Sublime rates the pick of the remainder.