14:15 Cork

Sunday 8 December 2024

All12:0312:3313:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 4m 17.80s

Banbridge²²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: R Deegan| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 165| D

16/1

High-class chaser. Ten wins from 18 NH runs. 1 win from 2 runs this season. 10/3, 28¼ lengths fourth of 6 to Found A Fifty in Fortria Chase at Navan (16f, good to soft) 22 days ago. Should be sharper now.

Form: 21/191-4

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Dinoblue²²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 157| BF| CD

5/2

Very smart chaser. C&D winner. 11/10, creditable 1½ lengths third of 9 to Banbridge in William Hill Champion Chase at Punchestown (16.4f, good to soft). Off 7 months. Yard having good spell.

Form: 1/11223-

Ferny Hollow^h²⁸⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| D

7/1

High-class chaser. Didn't need to be at best when winning 6-runner Newlands Chase at Naas (16f, heavy, 2/5) by 5½ lengths from Rebel Gold, easily. Off 9 months.

Form: 11111/1-

Appreciate It^t²²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 155| C

9/1

High-class chaser. 33/1, good 5½ lengths fifth of 9 to Fastorslow in Punchestown Gold Cup at Punchestown (25f, good to soft), suited by emphasis on speed. Off 7 months. Stable having good spell.

Form: 2/25325-

Blue Lord^t³⁷⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 160| D

10/1

High-class chaser. Seven wins from 16 NH runs. 6½ lengths fourth of 6 to Fastorslow in John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase at Punchestown (19.7f, soft, 6/1). Off 12 months.

Form: 11283/4-

Energumene⁵⁹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 175| CD

5/4

Top-class chaser who was very much on song in spring 2023, winning a second Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March before following up at Punchestown in April. Not seen since but still the one to beat.

Form: 111311/

Hunters Yarn²⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| D

16/1

Smart chaser. 15/2, bit below form 21½ lengths fifth of 10 to Gaelic Warrior in Arkle Chase at Cheltenham (15.9f, heavy). Off 9 months. Yard having good spell. Difficult ask.

Form: 102/F15-

The Banger Doyle⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: J Queally| OR: 143| C| D

80/1

Useful chaser. 2 wins from 4 runs this season. Career best when winning 6-runner handicap chase at this course (17.6f, good, 11/4) 56 days ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 33-1F21

Forecasts

Energumene (5/4), Dinoblue (5/2), Ferny Hollow (7/1), Appreciate It (9/1), Blue Lord (10/1), Hunters Yarn (16/1), Banbridge (16/1), The Banger Doyle (80/1)

Willie Mullins dominates this race and ENERGUMENE can make light of his absence and win it for a third time. Banbridge can step up on his reappearance and provide the chief threat ahead of Blue Lord, another from the Mullins yard returning from a layoff.