Hugh McMahon Memorial Novice Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 18:50 | Winning time: 7m 13.0s

Favori De Champdou¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 144| C

8/13

Useful chaser. Latest win in chase at Punchestown in November. Fell in Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse (29.1f, heavy) 18 days ago. This is much easier and he should take the beating.

Form: 4-2154F

Donacheady Gale³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: J P Ryan| OR: 112

9/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Fairly useful winner at 18f over hurdles. Very good second of 7 in novice chase (15/2) at Down Royal (19.6f, soft) 33 days ago. Up in trip. Out of his depth in this, though.

Form: 1314/32

Joyeux Machin^p,t⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Nolan| OR: 136

11/4

Useful chaser. 50/1, pulled up in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (24.3f, soft) 76 days ago, tailing off before 2 out. Likely to bounce back returned to chasing in calmer waters.

Form: 34122P

Tullyhogue Fort¹¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr P J O'Neill| T: John F O'Neill| OR: 95

66/1

Modest hurdler. Tailed-off last of 6 to Grangeclare West in Neville Hotels (Fort Leney) Novices' Chase at Leopardstown (24.4f, soft, 300/1) 112 days ago. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 524576

Bella Bliss^t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: J C McConnell| OR: 113

15/2

Fairly useful chaser. 3 wins from 11 runs this season. Latest win in chase at Kelso in September. Fifth of 7 in novice chase at Down Royal (19.6f, soft, 15/2) 33 days ago. Back up in trip.

Form: 123005

Non-Runners

Gaelic Arc¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: J P Ryan J: Danny Mullins

Forecasts

Favori De Champdou (8/13), Joyeux Machin (11/4), Bella Bliss (15/2), Donacheady Gale (9/1), Gaelic Arc (20/1), Tullyhogue Fort (66/1)

FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU has the most class in this field and, if none the worse for his fall in the Irish Grand National, he should be able to get the better of Joyeux Machin in a race that the pair are likely to dominate.