Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:21 | Winning time: 5m 25.10s

Appreciate It^t⁵²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 157| CD

1/1

Very smart chaser who won this race last year. 10/3, creditable 4¾ lengths second of 6 in listed chase at this course (22f, good to soft) on return 52 days ago. Bold bid expected.

Form: 351B2/2

Hercule Du Seuil^h,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Simon Torrens| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| D

11/2

Smart chaser. 1 win from 3 runs this season. 33/1, shaped as if out of sorts when pulled up in Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown (17f, good) 22 days ago.

Form: 33P/13P

Gentleman De Mee^t¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 157| C| D

11/1

Smart chaser. Course winner. Winner of the Topham at Aintree last season and that's likely the target again judged on both his efforts this term.

Form: 5414/46

James Du Berlais^t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 158| D

9/4

Produced a career best to land a 2½m handicap at the Punchestown Festival in April before out of his depth in Grade 1 there on return. Fared a lot better at Ascot since and not taken lightly.

Form: 0551/63-

Monbeg Park^b,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Jordan Gainford| T: Jack Foley| OR: 147| D

12/1

Smart chaser. Blinkered for 1st time, respectable fourteenth of 28 in handicap chase (28/1) at Leopardstown (24.4f, good) 22 days ago, trip too far. Bit to find in this company.

Form: 0/P4240

Forecasts

Appreciate It (1/1), James Du Berlais (9/4), Hercule Du Seuil (11/2), Gentleman De Mee (11/1), Monbeg Park (12/1)

APPRECIATE IT can defend his title judged on his encouraging comeback run over this C&D in November. James Du Berlais took a significant step forward at Ascot last month and is likely to be spot on now. Dual Grade 1 winner Gentleman De Mee may have other targets in mind.