Liam & Valerie Brennan Florida Pearl Novice Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 13:23 | Winning time: 6m 22.20s

Churchstonewarrior²⁸⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: Jonathan Sweeney| OR: 147| D

16/1

Smart chaser. 9/4, didn't need to improve to win 9-runner Ten Up Novices' Chase at Navan (24f, good to soft) by ¾ length from Mahler Mission. Off 9 months. Can make presence felt.

Form: 32/2221-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Affordale Fury²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Ewing| T: N Meade| D

9/4

Smart staying novice hurdler last season, finishing second in 3m Grade 1s at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festival. Won 6-runner novice chase at Galway (22.5f, heavy) on debut over fences 27 days ago by 1½ lengths from Favori De Champdou, bit in hand. Remains an exciting chasing prospect.

Form: 1F622-1

Favori De Champdou²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

11/2

Useful chaser. 5/2, 1½ lengths second of 6 to Affordale Fury in novice chase at Galway (22.5f, heavy) on debut over fences 27 days ago, sticking to task. Should progress.

Form: 111P4-2

Flooring Porter^t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| D

11/4

Dual Stayers' Hurdle winner at the festival but unable to complete a hat-trick of wins in that race this year when fourth. Took to fences well when winning 4-runner novice with plenty in hand at Cheltenham on return 4 weeks ago and should go on to better things in this sphere.

Form: 4443-91

Maxxum²⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| D

25/1

Useful hurdler. Won 7-runner novice chase at Tipperary (23.8f, soft, evens) on debut over fences, driven out. Off 6 months. Uphill task.

Form: 21100-1

Quilixios³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| C

15/2

Smart hurdler (Triumph Hurdle winner). Evens, won 10-runner novice chase at Limerick (19f, heavy) on debut over fences 34 days ago, overcoming a major late jumping lapse at the last. Respected.

Form: 17223/1

Sandor Clegane¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: P Nolan| C

7/2

Useful hurdler. Fourth of 11 in novice chase at Fairyhouse (16.5f, heavy, 11/4) on debut over fences 18 days ago. Significantly back up in trip. Likely to improve.

Form: 21331-4

Forecasts

Affordale Fury (9/4), Flooring Porter (11/4), Sandor Clegane (7/2), Favori De Champdou (11/2), Quilixios (15/2), Churchstonewarrior (16/1), Maxxum (25/1)

FLOORING PORTER isn't the most obvious chaser on looks and is coming to it relatively late, but he took to it well when making a winning start at Cheltenham on his return and obviously has scope to improve given his hurdling ability. Affordable Fury promises to make a better chase than hurdler so must be feared after beating Favori de Champdou with a bit in hand on his chase bow at Galway.