16:40 Naas

Sunday 13 March 2022

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

BARONERACING.COM Leinster National Handicap Chase (Grade A)

Off time: 16:42 | Winning time: 6m 55.50s

Franco De Port⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 158

9/2

Very smart chaser who posted excellent second of 18 on his handicap chase bow at Gowran (25f, soft) 45 days ago. Holds good claims.

Form: 52F-772

Ronald Pump^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁷⁾| T: M J Smith| OR: 147

9/1

Below form fifth of 9 to Thedevilscoachman in Boyne Hurdle (7/2) at Navan (21f, heavy) 19 days ago. Switches to chasing and not ruled out on his handicap chase debut.

Form: 3-52575

Class Conti^p,t⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144

25/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2019, and below form ninth of 18 in handicap chase at Gowran (25f, soft) 45 days ago. Yard in good form, but he needs to get back on track.

Form: 0340-P9

Champagne Platinum²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: E Bolger| OR: 139

7/2

Latest win in chase at Navan in January. Good second of 13 in handicap chase (16/1) at Punchestown (28.2f, heavy) 28 days ago, conceding first run. Player despite 3 lb rise.

Form: 50-8P12

Stormy Judge¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Danny Mullins| T: P A Fahy| OR: 139| C

8/1

Course winner. Found test inadequate when eleventh of 21 in handicap hurdle (28/1) at this course (15.5f, soft) 14 days ago, No forlorn hope back in this sphere.

Form: 3F211-0

Scoir Mear^p¹⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-6| J: Simon Torrens| T: T Mullins| OR: 138| CD

25/1

Landed this event 12 months ago and posted good fifth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (19.8f, soft) 15 days ago. Veteran is much respected in his follow-up bid.

Form: 80-7805

Diol Ker⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 137

7/2

Good fourth of 18 in handicap chase at Gowran (25f, soft, 15/2) 45 days ago. Ought to be competitive again.

Form: 6-F5924

Alfa Mix^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: L P Dempsey| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 134

14/1

Respectable seventh of 13 in handicap chase at Punchestown (28.2f, heavy, 12/1) 28 days ago, left poorly placed. Cheekpieces back on and in the mix.

Form: 43-4207

Stones And Roses²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134| BF| D

14/1

Creditable fifth of 13 in handicap chase (4/1) at Punchestown (28.2f, heavy) 28 days ago. Possibilities.

Form: P/71-4U5

Defi Bleu^p,t³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 133| D

25/1

11/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, below form fourth of 9 in minor chase at Fairyhouse (23.8f, soft) 32 days ago, going in snatches. Others are preferred.

Form: 712-0P4

Torygraph^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 131

22/1

Useful winner at 24f over hurdles. Respectable eighth of 13 in handicap chase (9/1) at Punchestown (28.2f, heavy) 28 days ago. Needs to step forward.

Form: 86-3638

Darrens Hope³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: R Murphy| OR: 129

14/1

Yet to score over fences, and below form third of 11 in novice chase at Fairyhouse (21f, soft) 32 days ago. Goes into handicaps now with more required.

Form: 202443

Forecasts

Diol Ker (7/2), Champagne Platinum (7/2), Franco De Port (9/2), Stormy Judge (8/1), Ronald Pump (9/1), Darrens Hope (14/1), Stones And Roses (14/1), Alfa Mix (14/1), Torygraph (22/1), Defi Bleu (25/1), Scoir Mear (25/1), Class Conti (25/1)

CHAMPAGNE PLATINUM deserved extra credit for his second at Punchestown when conceding first run to the winner and he can go one better here off a handy-looking mark. Franco De Port rates a big threat though on the back of his very good Gowran second, with in-form duo Ronald Pump and Alfa Mix and last year's victor Scoir Mear all in the mix too in a very open contest.