Barberstown Castle Poplar Square Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 5m 12.01s

Gentleman De Mee^h,t²¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 164| CD

4/7

Promising individual. Career best when winning 6-runner Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree (15.8f, good to soft, 7/2) by 4½ lengths from Edwardstone, going with enthusiasm. Off 7 months. Obvious claims.

Form: 7/52111-

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Coeur Sublime^t¹⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 152| D

5/2

Very smart chaser. 20/1, very good head second of 6 to Blue Lord in Barberstown Castle Novices' Chase (Colliers) at Punchestown (16f, good to soft). Off 6 months. Another bold show likely.

Form: 7/23172-

Jeremys Flame^h³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 147| CD

13/2

Smart chaser. Course winner. 1 win from 3 runs this season. Career best when winning 7-runner handicap chase at Galway (18.5f, soft, 9/4) 39 days ago, driven out.

Form: 13F-631

Francin¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: R A Berry| T: J A Berry| D

125/1

66/1, first run since leaving W. P. Mullins when sixth of 14 in novice chase at Wexford (16f, heavy) on debut over fences 12 days ago. Hard to fancy at this level.

Form: 36311/6

Gallant John Joe^b1,t²⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan| OR: 142| CD

20/1

Useful chaser. Creditable second of 6 in minor event hurdle at Leopardstown (18.3f, good to soft, 4/1). Off 8 months. Switches from hurdles to chase. Booking of Enright a plus. Blinkers on 1st time.

Form: 33/4542-

Forecasts

Gentleman De Mee (4/7), Coeur Sublime (5/2), Jeremys Flame (13/2), Gallant John Joe (20/1), Francin (125/1)

GENTELMAN DE MEE signed off last season with an impressive win in the Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree and he's open to more improvement this season, so he's fully expected to make a winning return for all that Coeur Sublime is quite closely matched at the weights (receives 9 lb). Jeremy's Flame is the pick of the remaining trio.