Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 18:35 | Winning time: 6m 26.70s

Beacon Edge^p⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 156| C

11/1

Very smart chaser. Six wins from 18 NH runs. 8/1, 27½ lengths seventh of 9 to L'homme Presse in Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Broadway) at Cheltenham (24.4f, soft) 41 days ago. Place possibilities.

Form: F-21F27

Bob Olinger^t1⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 160| C| D

6/5

High-class chaser. Left clear at the last when winning the 4-runner Golden Miller Novices' Chase (6/5) at Cheltenham (19.8f, good to soft) 40 days ago by 40 lengths from Busselton. Tongue strap on 1st time. Very much the one to beat.

Form: 111-111

Capodanno^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| CD

11/4

Very smart chaser. Respectable 12¼ lengths fourth of 9 to L'homme Presse in Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Broadway) (5/1) at Cheltenham (24.4f, soft) 41 days ago. Could have a significant role to play here, particularly if sharpening up on his jumping.

Form: 41-12U4

Fury Road^p,t¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 156| C| D

15/2

Very smart chaser. Six wins from 18 NH runs. Latest win in chase at Leopardstown in December. 5 lengths second of 4 to Ahoy Senor in Mildmay Novices' Chase (14/1) at Aintree (25f, good) 18 days ago. Likely to be on the premises.

Form: P-23152

Lifetime Ambition³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 145| C| D

12/1

Smart chaser. Didn't need to improve to win 6-runner Gr 3 chase at Limerick (24.6f, good to soft, 13/8) 30 days ago by 4¼ lengths from Darrens Hope, easily. Much more on his plate in this company.

Form: 142721

Millers Bank¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: K K Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 150

10/1

Smart chaser. 7/1, career best when winning 6-runner Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree (19.9f, good to soft) 19 days ago by 10 lengths from War Lord, pushed out. Up in trip and shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 3-1UU21

Ballyshannon Rose⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Brian Hayes| T: P G Fahey| OR: 138| D

50/1

Useful chaser. Six wins from 18 NH runs. Two wins from 5 runs last season. Unseated rider in handicap chase at Navan (24f, heavy, 12/1) 45 days ago looking sure to play hand in finish. This is much tougher.

Form: 2-1F12U

Forecasts

Bob Olinger (6/5), Capodanno (11/4), Fury Road (15/2), Millers Bank (10/1), Beacon Edge (11/1), Lifetime Ambition (12/1), Ballyshannon Rose (50/1)

It would be something of an understatement to say that BOB OLINGER was a fortuitous winner of the Turners Novices' Chase at last month's Cheltenham Festival, given that Galopin Des Champs was well clear when exiting at the final fence. Still, he faces nothing of that rival's calibre here and is taken to make it 4-4 over fences now upped to 3m for the first time under Rules. Fury Road is just about second choice ahead of Capodanno and British raider Millers Bank.