16:25 Punchestown

Saturday 30 April 2022

All14:3515:1015:5016:2517:0017:3018:0518:35

Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase (0-150) (Grade B)

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 6m 32.00s

Phoenix Way^t⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: K Brogan| T: H Fry| OR: 144| BF| D

8/1

Doubled his tally over fences at Ascot in January but fell heavily at the third in Coral Trophy (6/1) at Kempton (24f, good to soft) a month later. Can give a good account provided he's none the worse from that spill.

Form: P4-721F

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Ten Ten¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 140

22/1

Essentially been a disappointment this season bar his second in this corresponding race last year, pulled up in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (29.2f, good to soft) 12 days ago. Hopes pinned on a return to this venue sparking some sort of revival.

Form: R2-PP2P

West Cork Wildway^p1¹⁰⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: P O'Flynn| OR: 139| D

13/2

Failed to progress up in grade when 34¾ lengths fourth of 8 to Bob Olinger in Killiney Novices' Chase (66/1) at this course (20.2f, heavy) 104 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Makes handicap chase debut.

Form: 44-6F14

Defi Bleu^p,t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr R James⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 137

14/1

Returned to form from out of the blue to take advantage of a slipping mark in 14-runner handicap chase (20/1) at Fairyhouse (24.7f, good to soft) 12 days ago by ¾ length from Donkey Years, digging deep. Should go well again.

Form: 2-0P461

Dinny Lacey^p¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Shane O'Callaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Motherway| OR: 135| C

14/1

8/1, laboured effort when fourth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Cork (19f, heavy) 13 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Back up in trip. Cheekpieces back on. Must improve.

Form: 603624

Fully Charged^b¹²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Derek McGrath⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 134| C| D

16/1

Course winner. Two wins from 4 runs this season. Latest win in chase here in November. Fell eighth in handicap chase at Leopardstown (24.2f, soft, 16/1) in December. Had looked progressive prior so may get back on track.

Form: 25-211F

Popong²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 134

15/2

11/2, ran creditably after 7 months off when second of 6 in minor event chase at Tramore (21.6f, good to soft) 20 days ago. May build on that effort here.

Form: 3-53272

Minella Escape²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Shane Fitzgerald⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 130| D

20/1

2¾ lengths fourth of 6 to Recite A Prayer on handicap chase debut (13/2) at Wexford (20f, good to soft) 29 days ago, not ideally placed in a steadily-run affair.

Form: 1F-9474

Recite A Prayer^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 129| D

12/1

Progressed again to double his tally over fences at Wexford (20f, good to soft, 11/4) 29 days ago, responding well. Should remain competitive raised 4 lb.

Form: 41P721

Donkey Years^p1,t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: E McNamara| OR: 128| BF

5/1

10/3, progressed again when ¾-length second of 14 to Defi Bleu in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (24.7f, good to soft) 12 days ago, travelling best., Nudged up 3 lb for that effort but has to have a serious chance with first-time cheekpieces applied.

Form: 8-65232

Wa Wa^t⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: B J Cooper| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 128

9/1

Latest win in chase at Naas in November. Ran poorly returning from 3 months off when seventh of 11 in handicap chase at Navan (24f, heavy, 9/1) 49 days ago.

Form: 261147

Duc De Beauchene^t²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 126

10/1

Sketchy jumping proved costly on first two starts of this season, but much more assured when resuming winning ways back up in trip in 11-runner handicap chase at Newbury (22.4f, good) 29 days ago, drawing clear early on run-in but all out to hold on. Another bold bid expected.

Form: 41-6521

Cavallino^b⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: J B Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 125| BF

14/1

11/4, proved a let-down tried in blinkers when fifth of 14 in novice chase at Clonmel (20f, heavy) 72 days ago, typically making a significant jumping error. Makes handicap chase debut. One of two for Willie Mullins.

Form: 41-F235

Carrolls Cottage³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Brian Hayes| T: P Fenton| OR: 122| D

17/2

Bounced back to form when fourth of 8 in handicap chase at Limerick (19.6f, good to soft, 4/1) 34 days ago. Back up in trip. Others make more appeal.

Form: F824P4

Forecasts

Donkey Years (5/1), West Cork Wildway (13/2), Popong (15/2), Phoenix Way (8/1), Carrolls Cottage (17/2), Wa Wa (9/1), Duc De Beauchene (10/1), Recite A Prayer (12/1), Cavallino (14/1), Defi Bleu (14/1), Dinny Lacey (14/1), Fully Charged (16/1), Minella Escape (20/1), Ten Ten (22/1)

A host in with chances but DONKEY YEARS progressed again when finishing runner-up to Defi Bleu at Fairyhouse 12 days ago and with that pair pulling well clear of the third, Eric McNamara's charge gets the verdict to turn the tables on his old rival with first-time cheekpieces applied here. Last-time-out winners Duc de Beauchene and Recite A Prayer are another couple that may feature.