John J. Galvin Chase

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 4m 56.8s

Easy Game^p³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155| CD

5/2

Very smart chaser. 4-time course winner. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, 18½ lengths fourth of 7 to Fantastic Lady in Oaksey Chase (11/2) at Sandown (22.8f, good) 37 days ago. Would have every chance if anywhere near his best.

Form: 1/101P-4

Saint Sam^h³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 160

4/1

High-class chaser. 34 lengths sixth of 9 to Banbridge in William Hill Champion Chase (20/1) at Punchestown (16.4f, good to soft) 34 days ago. Passed over by Paul Townend but he's a big player all the same.

Form: 11F1P6-

Visionarian²⁰⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 150| C

7/1

Smart chaser. Two wins from 5 runs last season. 25 lengths last of 2 to Ash Tree Meadow in Skymas Chase at Down Royal (19.6f, soft, 11/8). Off 6 months. First run for yard after leaving Peter Fahey.

Form: 3/05112-

Maxxum³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Carl Millar⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| D

10/3

Smart hurdler. Career best when winning 25-runner handicap hurdle at Punchestown (23.5f, good to soft, 28/1) 32 days ago, driven out. Winner of one of his 2 previous starts in this sphere and he's open to improvement as a chaser.

Form: 5P16F1-

French Dynamite^p,t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: M F Morris| OR: 152

16/5

Smart hurdler. Six wins from 23 NH runs. 5½ lengths second of 4 to Ash Tree Meadow in Gr 3 chase at Killarney (20.4f, good to soft, 11/4) 21 days ago. Cheekpieces back on and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 244/34-2

Fury Road^p,t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 141

40/1

30¼ lengths last of 4 to Ash Tree Meadow in Gr 3 chase at Killarney (20.4f, good to soft, 33/1) 21 days ago. Opposable.

Form: 5/0604-4

Idas Boy⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Ewing| T: N Meade| OR: 147

18/1

Useful hurdler. One win from 2 runs last season. Latest win in chase at Punchestown in November. Fifteenth of 16 in handicap chase at Ballinrobe (23.4f, good, 22/1) 7 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 2P/1FF-0

Forecasts

Easy Game (5/2), French Dynamite (16/5), Maxxum (10/3), Saint Sam (4/1), Visionarian (7/1), Idas Boy (18/1), Fury Road (40/1)

It could be worth siding with MAXXUM, who was a winner of the first of his two chase starts last year and has since improved over hurdles, bagging valuable listed handicaps at Leopardstown and Punchestown in recent months. The Willie Mullins-trained pair Saint Sam and Easy Game both possess a touch of class and will be big threats if on-song. The former is feared most, despite being passed over by Paul Townend.