17:05 Leopardstown

Monday 4 March 2024

All14:2515:0015:3016:0016:3017:0517:35

John Thomas McNamara Series (Q.R.) Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 6m 10.50s

Baldur's Gate¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-4| J: Alan O'Sullivan⁽²⁾| T: Miss D O'Shea| OR: 111

6/1

Successful at Punchestown in November. 20/1, respectable seventh of 15 in handicap chase back there (27f, heavy) 15 days ago. Down in trip. Others more persuasive.

Form: P13227

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Soldaro^t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-4| J: Mr B T Stone⁽²⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 111

8/1

Pulled up in novice chase at Fairyhouse (21.3f, heavy, 13/2) 26 days ago. Needs to up her game now tried in a handicap in this sphere.

Form: 86U63P

Lar's Lass²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Mr R James| T: Tom Dreaper| OR: 109

17/2

Much improved when winning 6-runner handicap chase (28/1) at Punchestown (22.1f, soft) 28 days ago, all out. Shortlist material off this 3 lb higher mark.

Form: 12-2P81

St Denis's Well^p1,t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J Dunne| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 107

6/1

10/11, career best when winning 14-runner handicap chase at Down Royal (20.4f, heavy) 41 days ago, battling well. Now has a 9 lb higher mark to contend with but remains open to improvement. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: P-14511

Soloman Lane⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr D Doyle⁽²⁾| T: M Hassett| OR: 106

9/4

11/1, pulled up in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (21.2f, heavy) 40 days ago, behind when pulled up before last. Good second over this C&D on penultimate start and would be in with a shout if reproducing that form.

Form: P6-302P

Marronstown⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Alex Harvey| T: D M Christie| OR: 102

11/2

Last of 6 in novice chase (16/1) at Punchestown (22.7f, soft) 50 days ago. Makes handicap chase debut. Opposable.

Form: 5-35976

Nazine⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr A P Ryan| T: M J McDonagh| OR: 94

5/1

One win from 22 NH runs. Twenty runs since last win in 2021. Sixth of 14 in handicap hurdle (10/1) at Navan (20f, heavy) 44 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: 009606

School Lane⁶⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Josh Williamson⁽²⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 91| D

25/1

Tenth of 13 in handicap chase at Down Royal (20f, soft, 25/1) 69 days ago. Hard to warm to.

Form: 53-0P00

Forecasts

Soloman Lane (9/4), Nazine (5/1), Marronstown (11/2), Baldur's Gate (6/1), St Denis's Well (6/1), Soldaro (8/1), Lar's Lass (17/2), School Lane (25/1)

ST DENIS'S WELL has taken to fences like a duck to water and while a 9 lb rise for his Down Royal success demands more, this 6-y-o remains with potential as a chaser and is taken to make it 3-3 in this sphere. Lar's Lass will be a threat if building on her Punchestown victory and Soloman Lane could also take a hand in the finish if putting his latest effort behind him.