Flyingbolt Novice Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 4m 33.00s

Choccabloc^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Brian Hayes| T: A McNamara| OR: 116

150/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser. 22/1, pulled up in handicap chase at this course (24f, heavy) 20 days ago. Stiff task at this level.

Form: 22/7F2P

Intense Approach²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: J C McConnell| OR: 132| D

50/1

Useful hurdler with good strike rate. Took well to fences with a big-field maiden success on 22.5f Galway reappearance in August but disappointed at Cheltenham in October. Unseated first in Musselburgh handicap since.

Form: 1P81-5U

Jacob's Ladder^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 151| C| D

8/13

Highly promising type. Really smart effort when justifying strong market support in 14-runner handicap chase (2/1) at Leopardstown (17f, soft) 26 days ago, keeping on well. Hard to beat back in a novice.

Form: P-23121

Lovely Hurling⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Mark Walsh| T: Colm Murphy

3/1

Useful hurdler. Similar form when runner-up in maiden chases at Navan and Leopardstown this winter. Open to further progress in this sphere.

Form: 7112/22

Port Joulain⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

7/2

Bombed out on Punchestown chase debut/reappearance in December but totally different proposition when seeing off 7 rivals in a Fairyhouse maiden (17f, soft) 5 weeks later. Top stable has won 3 of the last 4 runnings of this.

Form: P310-71

Forecasts

Jacob's Ladder (8/13), Lovely Hurling (3/1), Port Joulain (7/2), Intense Approach (50/1), Choccabloc (150/1)

JACOB'S LADDER sets the bar high back in a novice. Willie Mullins has a strong recent record in this Grade 3 and his Fairyhouse maiden winner Port Joulain can follow the selection home.