Irish Daily Star - Best For Racing Coverage Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 6m 14.20s

Conflated¹⁸¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 167| D

11/4

Notched his second Grade 1 success over fences when landing the Savills at Leopardstown last Christmas and performed to an even higher standard when third in the Gold Cup next time. Ran flat at Aintree on final start of campaign but holds strong claims on return here.

Form: F2/313P-

Minella Indo²⁰⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 162| CD

15/8

Notched his first success since taking 2021 Gold Cup when narrowly landing Tramore Grade 3 on his reappearance in January. Ran no sort of race at Cheltenham subsequently but would be no surprise to see return to form here,

Form: P22P/1P-

Delta Work^p,t¹⁷⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 155| C| D

6/1

Smart performer who won the Cross Country Chase for the second year running at Cheltenham before unseating on second circuit in Grand National. Can go well fresh and must enter calculations.

Form: 3/1361U-

Panda Boy¹⁸⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: M Brassil| OR: 140| CD

11/4

Course winner who ended last campaign with creditable fifth of 27 in Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. Faces a stiff task first time up here, however.

Form: 1443F5-

Hurricane Georgie¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: J S McGarvey| T: G Elliott| OR: 138

11/1

Below form in recent starts, including when well-beaten fourth of 6 in PWC Champion Chase (8/1) at Gowran (20f, heavy) 11 days ago. Has plenty on her plate again here.

Form: 284904

Non-Runners

Fighter Allen¹⁴

Weight: 11-3| Age: 8

T: W P Mullins J: Paul Townend

Forecasts

Minella Indo (15/8), Panda Boy (11/4), Conflated (11/4), Delta Work (6/1), Hurricane Georgie (11/1), Fighter Allen (14/1)

CONFLATED has to concede weight all round but a repetition of the form of his Gold Cup third will see him prove hard to beat. Minella Indo scored on his return last term and is narrowly preferred to Delta Work for the forecast spot.