14:45 Leopardstown

Sunday 2 February 2025

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4515:2015:5016:25

O'Driscolls Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 5m 29.10s

James Du Berlais^t⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152| D

11/1

Not at best when third in Ascot minor event chase latest but was good third (off 3 lb lower) in this contest last year and should go well again.

Form: 4372F-3

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Pinkerton^t³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Donagh Meyler| T: N Meade| OR: 149

7/1

Bagged Galway Plate in July and has found further improvement since, latest when good third of 27 in handicap chase at this course (24.4f, good to soft, 11/1) 37 days ago. Should give another good account.

Form: 511-123

Visionarian¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 147

33/1

Seven wins from 27 NH runs. 20 lengths sixth of 7 to Appreciate It in Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles (20.9f, good, 28/1) 14 days ago. Stable in good form. Others more appealing.

Form: 014P86

Horantzau D'airy^t³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146| C

20/1

Course winner. 33/1, respectable ninth of 27 in handicap chase at this course (24.4f, good to soft) 37 days ago. Trainer going well. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 3F2299

Search For Glory^p,t³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 144| D

9/2

Made successful chase debut at Galway in October. Unlucky not to follow up in Grade 2 at Punchestown next time before good 4½ lengths third of 7 to Impaire Et Passe in Faugheen Novices' Chase at Limerick (19.4f, soft, 16/1) 15 days ago. Could be more to come on switch to handicaps.

Form: 417-123

Adamantly Chosen^p1³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143

28/1

50/1, below form seventeenth of 27 in handicap chase at this course (24.4f, good to soft) 37 days ago. Yard in good form. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Claims on pick of form.

Form: 7107-90

Life In The Park^t³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Mike O'Connor| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 142

50/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2022. 28/1, eighteenth of 27 in handicap chase at this course (24.4f, good to soft) 37 days ago. Others have achieved more.

Form: 04P-400

Hgranca De Thaix³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr F Maguire| T: B Connell| OR: 140

11/1

Promising individual who has won 2 of his 6 starts over fences. Appeared not to stay when well held over longer trip here in December and remains relatively unexposed.

Form: 5311-40

Monbeg Park^p,t⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Tiernan Power Roche⁽⁵⁾| T: S Doyle| OR: 138| D

9/1

Consistent sort who made the frame again when second of 9 in Gr 3 chase (9/2) at Cork (20f, good) 91 days ago, Tries handicapping now and opening mark could have been kinder.

Form: 514222

Sequestered³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: J G Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 137| C| D

5/1

Posted career best when winning 17-runner handicap chase at this course (24.4f, good to soft) 35 days ago, easily. 12 lb higher now but further improvement may be on the cards.

Form: 90-8441

Aime Desjy³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135

33/1

Yet to complete this term, unseating rider early on here latest. On a fair mark if putting everything together but clearly comes with risks attached.

Form: 158-7PU

Mars Harper^p,t³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Jordan Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 135

28/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2023. 25/1, below form sixteenth of 27 in handicap chase at this course (24.4f, good to soft) 37 days ago. Work to do.

Form: 78P520

Riaan^p1⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 133

10/1

Below form twelfth of 19 in handicap chase (25/1) at Navan (20.7f, soft) 57 days ago. Cheekpieces on for 1st time. Makes limited appeal.

Form: 442P-00

Shantreusse^p³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 133

20/1

Fell early on at Limerick latest but had posted creditable third of 11 in handicap chase at Punchestown (21.3f, soft, 9/2) on return previously and remains feasibly treated.

Form: 2727-3F

Backtonormal³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Conor Stone-Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 130

11/4

Having just his third start over fences when creditable sixth of 13 in novice at this course (17f, good to soft, 40/1) 37 days ago. Tries longer trip now and is worth monitoring in market on handicap debut for shrewd yard.

Form: 331-596

Union Park^t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Simon Torrens| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 123

80/1

Creditable seventh of 16 in handicap hurdle (25/1) at Punchestown (20.6f, heavy) 21 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Has work to do.

Form: 3B-8047

Non-Runners

Dancing On My Own¹⁰⁰

Weight: 11-11| Age: 11

T: H De Bromhead J: Darragh O'Keeffe

Forecasts

Backtonormal (11/4), Search For Glory (9/2), Sequestered (5/1), Pinkerton (7/1), Monbeg Park (9/1), Riaan (10/1), Hgranca De Thaix (11/1), James Du Berlais (11/1), Dancing On My Own (12/1), Shantreusse (20/1), Horantzau D'airy (20/1), Adamantly Chosen (28/1), Mars Harper (28/1), Visionarian (33/1), Aime Desjy (33/1), Life In The Park (50/1), Union Park (80/1)

SEQUESTERED proved a different proposition when bolting up on his handicap chase debut here in December and may have more to offer over fences yet. He can follow up. Search For Glory, Backtonormal and James Du Berlais make up the shortlist.