BetVictor Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 6m 3.30s

Croke Park¹⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 154

11/4

Smart chaser. Latest win in chase at Leopardstown in December. 29¾ lengths seventh of 9 to Impaire Et Passe in Manifesto Novices' Chase (7/1) at Aintree (19.9f, good). Off 6 months nd while he's in top hands, conceding weight all round will be no easy task.

Form: P/11127-

Fr Gilligansvoyge^t¹⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: Patrick M O'Brien| T: J G Carr| OR: 68| C

250/1

Poor chaser. Twenty three runs since sole win in 2023. 14/1, creditable fifth of 12 in handicap chase at Sligo (21.1f, good to soft) 14 days ago. Impossible ask.

Form: PP-9425

Heart Wood¹⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 160| BF| D

4/9

High-class chaser. Latest win in chase at Wexford in October 2024. 7/4, pulled up in minor event chase at Fairyhouse (19.8f, soft) 177 days ago, ridden after 4 out. Very much the one to beat on his Ryanair second prior to that.

Form: 3/1242P-

Itsalladream¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Gilligan| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 124

50/1

Fairly useful chaser. 40/1, 20 lengths fourth of 6 to Westport Cove in Gr 3 chase at Roscommon (16.7f, good to soft) 16 days ago. Significantly back up in trip.

Form: 210354

Monbeg Park^p,t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: Jack Foley| OR: 145| C

7/1

Useful chaser. 22/1, 18½ lengths fourth of 5 to Western Fold in PWC Champion Chase at Gowran (20f, soft) 11 days ago. Task is to now build on that.

Form: 3140-P4

Pebble Bleu^h,t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Michael Kenneally| T: C Motherway| OR: 102| CD

50/1

Fair chaser. C&D winner. One win from 24 NH runs. 6/1, creditable fourth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Tipperary (23.3f, soft) 9 days ago, doing too much too soon. Switches from hurdles to chase and is right up against it.

Form: 6-628F4

Non-Runners

Western Fold¹¹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: Danny Gilligan

Forecasts

Heart Wood (4/9), Western Fold (11/8), Croke Park (11/4), Monbeg Park (7/1), Pebble Bleu (50/1), Itsalladream (50/1), Fr Gilligansvoyge (250/1)

HEART WOOD's runner-up effort in the Ryanair Chase is by far the best form on offer here and in expert hands, he's sure to be well prepared for this. Western Fold must concede 8 lb to the selection but he's fit and thriving so is the obvious threat.