16:10 Leopardstown

Saturday 4 February 2023

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1016:40

Paddy Power Cheltenham Fanzone Handicap Chase (0-150) (Grade B)

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 4m 17.00s

A Wave Of The Sea^b³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 144| CD

7/1

More miss than hit around 3m this season but he's won this race for the last 2 years and could easily stage a revival from a mark only 2 lb higher than 12 months ago.

Form: 6F64P0

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Rebel Gold^t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: P T Foley| OR: 144| D

7/1

5/1, career best when winning 11-runner handicap chase at Fairyhouse (17f, heavy) 21 days ago, kept up to work. Raised another 8 lb but he is thriving at present.

Form: 38-6521

Battleoverdoyen^t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: C McGivern⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 142| C

25/1

Course winner. Eight wins from 28 NH runs. Respectable 16¾ lengths fourth of 11 to Rebel Gold in handicap chase (40/1) at Fairyhouse (17f, heavy) 21 days ago.

Form: 5235P4

Final Orders⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 140| CD

9/2

Made it 5 wins in his last 6 starts when digging deep to see off 8 rivals over C&D at the Christmas meeting. Up another 9 lb but this thriving sort could easily have more to give.

Form: 121111

Vado Forte¹¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: L P Dempsey| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 138

125/1

Latest win in chase at Galway in July. 40/1, eighth of 10 in handicap chase at Cork (17.6f, heavy) 111 days ago

Form: 051358

Fils D'oudairies¹³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 137| D

3/1

10/1, creditable second of 17 in handicap hurdle at Listowel (16f, good) 134 days ago, running on. Switches from hurdles to chase. Shortlist material for top connections.

Form: 222-552

Grange Walk⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 137| CD

25/1

C&D winner. 14/1, creditable 12¼ lengths fourth of 9 to Final Orders in handicap chase at this C&D (soft) 40 days ago.

Form: FF-8374

Get My Drift^p1,t⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: M F Morris| OR: 130| C

4/1

Useful hurdler. Promise when placed in a couple of maiden chases this winter and interesting now handicapping for the first time in this sphere. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 309-363

Barnacullia¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Flanagan| T: M Mulvany| OR: 129| D

28/1

Latest win in chase at Galway in October. Ninth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Navan (20f, soft, 10/1) 14 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Makes handicap chase debut.

Form: 631349

Espion Du Chenet^p1,t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Cian Quirke⁽⁷⁾| T: Louise G Lyons| OR: 129| D

20/1

20/1, creditable 12¾ lengths fifth of 9 to Final Orders in handicap chase at this C&D (soft) 40 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 065465

Sil Ver Klass^t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: P J Carberry| T: A J Martin| OR: 128| D

28/1

Won at Fairyhouse in December but needs to shrug off a poor run here over Christmas.

Form: 63161P

Jody Ted²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Griffin| OR: 123

15/2

Latest win in chase at Clonmel in December. 9/1, pulled up in minor event chase at Fairyhouse (21.6f, heavy) 21 days ago, pulled up soon after. Down in trip. Makes handicap chase debut.

Form: 71/U15P

Forecasts

Fils D'oudairies (3/1), Get My Drift (4/1), Final Orders (9/2), A Wave Of The Sea (7/1), Rebel Gold (7/1), Jody Ted (15/2), Espion Du Chenet (20/1), Battleoverdoyen (25/1), Grange Walk (25/1), Barnacullia (28/1), Sil Ver Klass (28/1), Vado Forte (125/1)

GET MY DRIFT is interesting now handicapping for the first time over fences with cheekpieces added and might be able to deny ownermate A Wave of The Sea a hat-trick of wins in this contrest. The thriving Final Orders and Gordon Elliott's Fils d'Oudairies complete the shortlist.