Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 4m 25.20s

El Fabiolo²²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 172| D

1/5

Cemented his position as last season's leading novice chaser when going 4-4 in Grade 1 at Punchestown by 11 lengths from Dysart Dynamo. Yard has farmed this event in recent years so the Arkle winner looks very hard to beat on his seasonal return.

Form: 21/1111-

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Rebel Gold^t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: P T Foley| OR: 145| D

125/1

Smart chaser. Should strip fitter for his reappearance thirteenth over hurdles at Naas (19.9f, soft, 22/1) 28 days ago but this is a very difficutl ask.

Form: 52151-0

Fil Dor^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 150| D

7/1

Very smart chaser who resumed with a good 1¾ lengths second of 5 to Dinoblue in Poplar Square Chase at Naas (16f, soft, 5/1) 28 days ago, sticking to task. Solid place prospects.

Form: 35106-2

Jungle Boogie⁷⁰⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 148

25/1

Unbeaten in three runs, and he scored impressively on his chasing bow in 21f Fairyhouse maiden in January 2022 for Willie Mullins. Lacks experience, but is an exciting prospect.

Form: 111/

Vanillier^t²³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 152

50/1

Grade 1 3m hurdles winner. Has made into a smart chaser too and he signed off last term with a fine second of 39 in Grand National at Aintree. Returns from seven months off back over 2m so others appeal more on this occasion.

Form: 6/36F22-

Maskada³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 151

9/1

Smart winning chaser who shaped as if better for the run after 8 months off when 17¾ lengths fourth of 5 to Allegorie De Vassy in listed chase at Clonmel (20.4f, heavy) 31 days ago. Yard in good form so no surprise to see him take a big step forward here.

Form: 4/F101-4

Forecasts

El Fabiolo (1/5), Fil Dor (7/1), Maskada (9/1), Jungle Boogie (25/1), Vanillier (50/1), Rebel Gold (125/1)

EL FABIOLO carried all before him over fences last season and the Arkle hero is confidently expected to go 5-5 since sent chasing and maintain Willie Mullins' stranglehold on this Grade 1 event. Henry de Bromhead's unexposed and still unbeaten Jungle Boogie, returning from a lay-off for a new stable, could emerge as the chief threat ahead of the much more experienced duo of Fil Dor and Maskada.