| No. |
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Selection |
Form |
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Guide |
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- Springwell Bay
- Jonjo O'Neill Jr. / J & A O'Neill
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160
|
13/2 |
Springwell Bay
Highly progressive contender who beat Insurrection at Chepstow (2m3f, good; Listed) on debut over fences and has solid form at Cheltenham since, most recently producing an impressive performance in an open handicap over C&D (soft) on New Year's Day when breezing into contention then scooting clear on the run-in; could still be well treated even after 9lb rise; big player in a novice handicap.
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- Firefox
- J W Kennedy / G Elliott
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155
|
4/1 |
Firefox
Unraced on heavy, otherwise looks versatile ground-wise; smart, consistent and has several pieces of Grade 1 form, including good third in the Supreme at this meeting 12 months ago despite meeting trouble; chase record features creditable efforts in the Drinmore (2m4f) and the Irish Arkle (2m1f); brings class to this first handicap attempt and has to be feared.
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- Caldwell Potter
- H Cobden / P F Nicholls
|
|
158
|
6/1 |
Caldwell Potter
Grade 1 novice hurdle winner over 2m in Ireland and sold for 740,000euros at the Caldwell dispersal sale; hasn't strictly lived up to that price tag for new connections, notwithstanding an easy win on chase debut, and he finished weakly over C&D (good to soft; behind Springwell Bay on worse terms) in December; beaten favourite in Grade 2 since; however, gets into this handicap off an attractive mark (5lb lower than hurdles rating) and the return to 2m4f is worth exploring judged on pedigree; interesting.
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- Dee Capo
- D J Gilligan / G Elliott
|
|
144
|
50/1 |
Dee Capo
Opened his chase account in Leopardstown contest (2m5f, good to yielding) in December, showing no ill-effects from a fall the time before; seemed a non-stayer over 3m1f on heavy ground last time and this drop back in distance is a positive; however, he doesn't look favourably treated.
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- Answer To Kayf
- J P Shinnick / T O'Brien
|
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158
|
11/1 |
Answer To Kayf
Useful sort whose two handicap attempts have resulted in a good fourth in the Martin Pipe here 12 months ago and an easy success over fences at Naas (2m4f, soft) last time; still has fairly low mileage for a 9yo and could improve further; solid claims returned to the Cheltenham Festival.
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- Asian Master
- Mr Thomas Costello / W P Mullins
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154
|
6/1 |
Asian Master
Always ridden by Thomas Costello; creditable fourth in the Supreme at this meeting last year; point winner in 2023 and ran creditably, in third place, behind notable stablemates in beginners chases at Fairyhouse the last twice; campaigned only at about 2m since joining Willie Mullins but should be as effective back up in trip; potentially ahead of his mark and looks interesting.
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- Insurrection
- J J Burke / P F Nicholls
|
|
163
|
28/1 |
Insurrection
Good second to Springwell Bay at Chepstow on chase debut and resumed improvement with an emphatic win in Musselburgh handicap (2m4f, good to soft) most recently; faces a stiffer assignment off revised mark in this much deeper field and Harry Cobden sides with stablemate Caldwell Potter.
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- Nurburgring
- J J Slevin / J P O'Brien
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|
143
|
15/2 |
Nurburgring
Respectable fourth in the Triumph here 12 months ago and landed the Galway Hurdle (on good ground) in August; never got into a rhythm in latest chase start but looks ready for a crack at this new trip (first go beyond 2m1f) and the reapplication of cheekpieces (second attempt) is another possible aid; has a very attractive mark judged on hurdles form; one for the shortlist returned to the Cheltenham Festival.
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- O'Moore Park
- S F O'Keeffe / W P Mullins
|
|
148
|
66/1 |
O'Moore Park
Fairly useful but he is well down the pecking order at the Willie Mullins yard and finished behind a couple of stablemates when managing to complete at Gowran Park (2m4f) most recently; late faller in his other two chase attempts; not particularly solid and doesn't look well handicapped.
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- Anyway
- D J O'Keeffe / D Budds
|
|
141
|
100/1 |
Anyway
Best results on good/good to yielding; ties in closely with The Other Mozzie on Galway running (chase debut) but isn't particularly solid judged on subsequent form; held by Nurburgring and Dee Capo on last two efforts and appears poorly handicapped in this hot contest.
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- San Salvador
- R Deegan / J P O'Brien
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|
158
|
33/1 |
San Salvador
Registered two novice wins (including Grade 3) in September; made a couple of errors here in November (still ran respectably) and took a fall at Christmas, then had a confidence booster (won AW maiden) back on the Flat; useful but a safe round of jumping isn't guaranteed.
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- The Other Mozzie
- C Stone-Walsh / G P Cromwell
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155
|
50/1 |
The Other Mozzie
Took well to first-time cheekpieces in Naas handicap (2m, soft) when last seen, adding to his Galway win (2m2f, good; chase debut); not certain to remain in the same form, having lacked consistency and bearing in mind that his record at about 2m4f is far from solid; headgear retained.
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- What's Up Darling
- Tiernan Power Roche / G Elliott
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|
151
|
22/1 |
What's Up Darling
Respectable sixth in the Martin Pipe here 12 months ago and, having been largely consistent, may bounce back from a below-par run over fences last time; however, he rather lacks progression and is out of the winning habit, being on a nine-race losing sequence that goes back to November 2023.
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- Pic Roc
- Ben Jones / B Pauling
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|
161
|
9/1 |
Pic Roc
Unraced on heavy, acts on any other ground; rather a frustrating sort, having registered just one win (over hurdles) and finished second lots of times, most recently behind Lord Of Thunder at Newbury (third attempt in this sphere); however, has steadily progressive RPRs and is certainly threatening to double his tally; enters calculations.
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- Densworth
- Callum Pritchard / B Pauling
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|
160
|
50/1 |
Densworth
Less consistent than stablemate Pic Roc and has one standout performance since switched to fences, namely his comfortable win at Wetherby (2m3f, good) on penultimate start; had wind surgery (his third) since last run; wears first-time cheekpieces; faces a stiffer assignment in this field and isn't a solid option.
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- Moon D'orange
- S Bowen / J C McConnell
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|
159
|
12/1 |
Moon D'orange
Form figures of 33421 since switched to chasing include three runs at Cheltenham; came from last to first under Sean Bowen in open handicap over C&D (soft) most recently, making a rapid move after the home turn then showing grit after making a bad error at the final fence; player returned to novice company.
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- Lord Of Thunder
- Brendan Powell / J Tizzard
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158
|
10/1 |
Lord Of Thunder
All wins on soft/heavy but has form on good; solid performances since wearing a tongue-tie, finishing second (behind subsequent Grade 1 winner) in 2m3f Grade 2 at Ffos Las then beating Pic Roc in 2m7f handicap at Newbury; possibilities with further progress plausible.
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- Es Perfecto
- Thomas Bellamy / A King
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158
|
33/1 |
Es Perfecto
Creditable third in notable novice handicap over C&D last term; record of 2-4 this season includes a solid win at Sandown (2m4f, good to soft; beat a subsequent scorer) last time; however, the age stats are against this 10yo, as veterans have rarely contested this prize and no horse older than nine has won it; 2lb out of the weights.
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- Ryan's Rocket
- Jack Hogan / F O'Brien
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156
|
40/1 |
Ryan's Rocket
Has gained all rules wins at 2m; 3m point winner who is bred to stay well but failed to get home, albeit on soft going, in C&D novice handicap last time (beaten about 15l); may see his race out better if the ground is faster but others have less to prove; 4lb out of the handicap.
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- Shanbally Kid
- B Hayes / W P Mullins
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134
|
40/1 |
Shanbally Kid
Creditable third in the Coral Cup here on final start last term; not in anything like the same form over fences this season and the application of cheekpieces (retained today) had no effect last time; 5lb out of the weights; the return to Cheltenham needs to spark a big revival.
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