15:50 Punchestown

Wednesday 16 October 2024

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5517:30

BetVictor Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 5m 50.30s

Hewick^b¹⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Jordan Gainford| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 167| D

7/2

Top-class chaser. 88/10, creditable 1½ lengths second of 14 to Losange Bleu in Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil at Auteuil (25.4f, soft) 151 days ago, staying on well. Switches from hurdles to chase. Big player on return.

Form: 40163-2

Minella Indo¹⁸⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 158| CD

4/1

High-class chaser. C&D winner. Eight wins from 24 NH runs. Good third of 32 in handicap chase (28/1) at Aintree (34.3f, soft). Off 6 months. Significantly down in trip. Won this on his comeback last year.

Form: 1P/1443-

Conflated^p¹⁶⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 165

10/3

Top-class chaser. 25/1, 9½ lengths sixth of 9 to Fastorslow in Punchestown Gold Cup at this course (25f, good to soft) 168 days ago. Clear pick on form, though was well held in this last year on his return.

Form: 3UU326-

Desertmore House^p,t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Ricky Doyle| T: M Brassil| OR: 143

18/1

Useful chaser. Pulled up in handicap chase (25/1) at Listowel (23.8f, soft) 21 days ago. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 11843-P

Espanito Bello^v¹⁹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: B Connell| OR: 147

20/1

Useful hurdler. Pulled up in Fairyhouse Chase (33/1) at Fairyhouse (19.7f, heavy) won by Journey With Me, losing touch from ninth. Off 6 months. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 1PU3UP-

French Dynamite^p,t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: M F Morris| OR: 144| C| D

7/2

Useful chaser. Course winner. Twelve runs since last win in 2022. 4 lengths second of 3 to Visionarian in PWC Champion Chase (5/2) at Gowran (20f, good to firm) 11 days ago.

Form: 4-24702

Minella Crooner^p¹⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 149| C| D

5/1

Smart chaser. Six wins from 18 NH runs. 1 win from 1 run this season. 25/1, career best when winning 12-runner handicap chase at this course (24.5f, soft) 165 days ago.

Form: P33PP1-

Non-Runners

Visionarian¹¹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 9

T: G P Cromwell J: Keith Donoghue

Hurricane Georgie²¹

Weight: 10-10| Age: 7

T: G Elliott J: Sam Ewing

Forecasts

Conflated (10/3), French Dynamite (7/2), Hewick (7/2), Minella Indo (4/1), Minella Crooner (5/1), Visionarian (14/1), Hurricane Georgie (16/1), Desertmore House (18/1), Espanito Bello (20/1)

CONFLATED needed the run when well held in this last year but will take some stopping on these terms if anywhere near his best this time around. Fellow Grade 1 winners Minella Indo and Hewick are the obvious threats.