Plenty of experienced types here, but none may cope with the novice LIGHTKEEPER who trounced a subsequent Fairyhouse winner at Wexford in his first handicap. He may have been fortunate to get away with a 7lb rise and is preferred to Must Be Obeyed, who has fair prospects of matching last year's effort in this race when he beat all bar Lets Go Champ. Blue Lord did not take to the fences in the Topham for which he was well-fancied. On his old form, he is a class act in this company. [Alan Sweetman]
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Three Grade 1 wins in 2022; has been campaigned at a high level in recent seasons without much reward; took a step back in the right direction when 13l third in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase in February; let down by his jumping when favourite for the Topham won by stablemate Gentleman De Mee; cheekpieces now added to tongue-tie.
Last year's Topham second; fifth behind stablemate Gentleman Du Mee in same race this year, closely matched with Mars Harper on his respectable fifth at DRF at Leopardstown; 1-15 chase record is concerning.
Came on from his reappearance with a Grade 2 win in a three-runner contest at Gowran in October; well held in stronger Graded contests; ignored in the market (33-1) when in rear in a valuable DRF handicap on latest.
Enjoyed a fine spell of form in handicaps the second half of 2023, winning at Galway and Listowel and second to Solness at Fairyhouse; weak form in four 2024 outings, the most recent over hurdles at Galway in October.
2-17 over fences, with both wins gained early in 2023; mostly campaigned over hurdles this season; made mistakes when beaten around 20l in seventh when reverting to chasing at Leopardstown in February; reported to have bled at both nostrils.
Useful novice last season, ending the campaign with victory over Must Be Obeyed in this race; at least as good when third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November; disappointing in race won by The King Of Prs at Fairyhouse in January; 8ln higher than last year's winning mark.
In the best form of his life when winning at Cheltenham and this festival in 2023; now at the veteran stage, fair third at Cheltenham in January; finished tenth in the Plate this time, appears held by Mars Harper and Riann.
Enjoyed a good run of form before found wanting in the Grand Annual and the Topham; 7lb higher than when accounting for a field that included Must Be Obeyed and Lets Go Champ at Fairyhouse in January.
Has won only two of his 27 chase starts and his last success was in September 2023; however, he has run with credit in some major handicaps this season, including fourth in the Plate at Cheltenham, in front of stablemate Riann; below that form in the Topham.
No success since a 2022 hat-trick, two Flat runs since down the field in the Grand Annual; some fair form but inconsistent in handicap hurdles last year; would be of interest if attracting market support.
Sole chase win in a Wexford beginners' event; ran a big race when 66-1 chance in the Plate at Cheltenham, not far off stablemate Mars Harper then; also managed a fair fourth at Leopardstown in February.
Won a rated novice event at Down Royal in March; beat subsequent Fairyhouse winner Kiltealy Park by 8l at Wexford in his first handicap; progressive sort does not look badly treated with 7lb rise; drying ground should help.
2-20 over fences; over two years since her chase wins were achieved back-to-back over 2m7f at this venue and 2m5f at Fairyhouse; best 2024 run when second to Lets Go Champ in this race; fair fourth over 3m1f at Naas in March; cheekpieces tried after last week's Fairyhouse fifth.
Alternating between hurdles and fences of late, ran his best race for some time when third in a valuable 2m1f handicap chase off 126 at the DRF; unplaced at Gowran but a recent hurdles win shows he is in good heart; no chase win since March 2023.
1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3,4
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
