February 22 / 15.25 Fairyhouse

15.25

Soft

Follow @ToteRacing On Twitter Bobbyjo Chase (Grade 3)

  • Prize money: £18285.12
  • 3m 1f 165y
  • 6 runners
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Follow @ToteRacing On Twitter Bobbyjo Chase (Grade 3)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 273-41 C

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 161

Form & Verdict
Second-season chaser finished third to Minella Cocooner in bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown last term and career-best last month in 3m Grade 3 Thyestes Handicap at Gowran, despite tending to jump right; going the right way and could further enhance his Aintree prospects here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

17th Mar 2026

Yielding

3m 2f 50y

15:38 Down Royal

Nick Rockett

11st 7lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Ended his novice season with third in bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown; took his form to another level last season; backed up his Thyestes win by taking the Grade 2 Bobbyjo at Fairyhouse en route to leading home a one-two-three for the stable in the Grand National; makes a delayed reappearance after missing the John Durkan in December.

5/4

1st

3

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Nick Rockett

11st 8lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Capped his first season over fences with third to Minella Cocooner in bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (extended 3m4f, good) last April and took his form to another level with two Grade 3 wins on testing ground in Ireland this year; the latest was in a good scrap with Intense Raffles, who's now a whopping 15lb better off; that helps to show that even more improvement is needed.

25/1

1st

3

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Nick Rockett

11st 8lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Capped his first season over fences with third to Minella Cocooner in bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (extended 3m4f, good) last April and took his form to another level with two Grade 3 wins on testing ground in Ireland this year; the latest was in a good scrap with Intense Raffles, who's now a whopping 15lb better off; that helps to show that even more improvement is needed.

25/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 111-90 CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 151

Form & Verdict
Won twice over hurdles in France; unbeaten in three Fairyhouse chase starts last season, culminating in Irish Grand National; two hurdle preps this term should have him straighter and has to be respected given his record here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 7f 68y

15:05 Punchestown

Intense Raffles

11st 12lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Thomas Gibney

All three chase wins have been at Fairyhouse, notably the 2024 Irish National; well below best this season however, most recently at same venue in Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase in February; hard to be confident in and wants softer ground.

20/1

6th

8

21st Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 2f 0y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Intense Raffles

11st 0lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Thomas Gibney

Best efforts have come at this track with all three chase wins coming here, notably the 2024 Irish National; chased home Nick Rockett in this race last season; performances this season have been disappointing; faded from four out at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft); pulled up in the Welsh National (3m6f, good to soft) and same story in the Theyestes last time; needs to come back to form.

28/1

2

22nd Jan 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 0y

15:30 Gowran Park

Intense Raffles

11st 11lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Thomas Gibney

Best efforts at Fairyhouse; all three chase wins there, notably the 2024 Irish National; confirmed liking for that track when chasing home Nick Rockett last February; failed to take to the fences in the Grand National; faded from four out in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November; very laboured display in the Welsh National, pulled up at the 15th; up against it now.

12/1

10/1

Form: 408-P4 D

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 155

Form & Verdict
Talented sort but has become undependable and two runs this term leave him with a fair bit to find.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

15:15 Newbury

Capodanno

12st 2lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Neil Mulholland

Capable of smart form for Willie Mullins and landed the Cotswold Chase two years ago; however, badly lacks recent match practice having been absent since finishing third in the Bobbyjo last February; remains with same owner; market may offer further guidance.

14/1

3rd

2

22nd Feb 2025

Soft

3m 1f 165y

15:25 Fairyhouse

Capodanno

11st 8lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, mistake 4 out, pressed leaders 2 out, no extra before last

10/1

Form: 31-589

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
Smart second-season novice last season, third to Intense Raffles in Irish National here before winning the 3m5f bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown; has fallen short at Grade 1 level in three runs this season but can't be ruled out dropped in grade here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Minella Cocooner

11st 1lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Delivered late to win this race on good ground last year by a neck, 26 days after his third in a heavy-ground Irish National; he shaped as if back to his best in the Grand National three weeks ago, travelling well to dispute the lead two out but ending up seventh as the 4m2f took its toll; this trip is presumably the ideal fit and, although 4lb higher than last year, a big run should be forthcoming if Aintree has not taken it out of him.

7/1

9th

2

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Minella Cocooner

11st 1lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Delivered late to win this race on good ground last year by a neck, 26 days after his third in a heavy-ground Irish National; he shaped as if back to his best in the Grand National three weeks ago, travelling well to dispute the lead two out but ending up seventh as the 4m2f took its toll; this trip is presumably the ideal fit and, although 4lb higher than last year, a big run should be forthcoming if Aintree has not taken it out of him.

7/1

7th

8

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Minella Cocooner

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: W P Mullins

Third to Intense Raffles in the Irish National (3m5f, heavy) and delivered late to win the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (extended 3m4f, good; 6lb higher today) later last April; Grade 1 rivals proved far too hot for him this season and he failed to trouble Nick Rockett and Intense Raffles at Fairyhouse on latest outing, but he looks a far more interesting prospect for today's assignment and this could be when he wins again.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 702165

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Grade 3 winner at Punchestown (2m7f) in October but both runs since in Grade 2 contests some way below his best; could struggle to see this out on this ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

19th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

16:15 Limerick

French Dynamite

11st 12lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: E McNamara

Three chase wins, including a 2m7f Grade 3 at Punchestown last October; often highly tried when with Mouse Morris; creditable third in the Kerry National on stable debut; fair chance with 5lb off again; trainer (responsible for last year's winner) also has Weveallbeencaught in the line-up.

9/1

3rd

5

24th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 7f 180y

16:23 Listowel

French Dynamite

11st 6lb

J: G B Noonan

T: E McNamara

Three chase wins, including a 2m7f Grade 3 at Punchestown last October; often highly tried when with Mouse Morris; his new trainer knows what it takes to win this; possible each-way value.

20/1

2nd

6

3rd May 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

French Dynamite

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Brouder

T: M F Morris

Three chase wins, including a 2m7f Grade 3 at this venue last October, beating Minella Indo; ran well for a long way before weakening in the Cross Country Handicap at Cheltenham; never threatened in the Topham.

7/1

Form: P-5978

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won back-to-back handicap chases last season on testing ground; hasn't shown a lot this term and cheekpieces now fitted; out of his depth.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

23

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 104y

15:45 Punchestown

Clonmeen

10st 0lb

J: Daniel King

T: William P Murphy

Not a great strike rate but on song on latest when readily landing 3m1f Fairyhouse handicap last month in first-time blinkers; raised 12lb for that but still 12lb out of handicap here so plenty on his plate.

33/1

1st

18

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 120y

17:40 Fairyhouse

Clonmeen

10st 0lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: William P Murphy

Promise here on seasonal reappearance; failed to build on that on next four starts but signs of a revival when staying on for a 9.5l fourth back here (3m, heavy) on latest; blinkers could eke out more but he's 7lb wrong and looks up against it.

33/1

Non-runners

Affordale Fury, I Am Maximus

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €3.80
Straight Forecast €3.87
Trifecta €15.00

Selections

RP RATINGS (IRE):

I Am Maximus

POSTDATA:

Nick Rockett

SPOTLIGHT:

Intense Raffles

TOPSPEED:

French Dynamite

The Irish Sun:

I Am Maximus