January 29 / 12.57 Naas

12.57

Soft

Finlay Ford At Naas Novice Chase (Grade 3)

  • Prize money: £15663.72
  • 3m 0f 170y
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Finlay Ford At Naas Novice Chase (Grade 3)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

100/30 (Won)

Form: 3166-1 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bumper and hurdles winner but fell short at the highest level; stayed on strongly to account for stablemate Tenzing on his chase debut at Thurles last month; still capable of better and has a leading chance here but needs to step up again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

22nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 4f 165y

20:00 Downpatrick

Ramillies

12st 0lb

J: Mr T C Kileff

T: D M Christie

Second runner for yard; six-time point winner has been well below his best in that sphere last season and isn't easy to fancy on that form.

28/1

11

2nd May 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 160y

16:15 Punchestown

Ramillies

12st 0lb

J: Mr R James

T: D M Christie

never better than midfield, pulled up 11th

12/1

11

2nd May 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 160y

16:15 Punchestown

Ramillies

12st 0lb

J: Mr R James

T: D M Christie

never better than midfield, pulled up 11th

12/1

Form: 321-1F C

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Consistently improved as a hurdler, putting up his best performance when winning the Boyne Hurdle at Navan last year; not quite so effective yet over fences, winning a beginners at Galway before falling when beaten in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse; race conditions suit here and this trip will help his jumping; can go close.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

2nd Mar 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 2f 72y

14:25 Leopardstown

Thedevilscoachman

11st 2lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Noel Meade

Four-time winner over hurdles has bounced back to form this season; has finished runner up in Grade 2s the last twice at Gowran and Navan on soft to heavy ground; the drying track here is not in his favour and this trip may be a shade sharp too, albeit he can't be discounted in this company.

5/4

2nd

6

9th Feb 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 180y

14:40 Navan

Thedevilscoachman

11st 3lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Noel Meade

prominent, disputing second 8th, went clear with winner approaching last, no impression final 110yds

7/4

2nd

6

9th Feb 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 180y

14:40 Navan

Thedevilscoachman

11st 3lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Noel Meade

prominent, disputing second 8th, went clear with winner approaching last, no impression final 110yds

7/4

Form: 51-13U

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Winning hurdler got up on the line to win on his chase debut at Fairyhouse in October; ran okay in a Grade 2 at Punchestown subsequently before falling in a 3m Grade 1 at Leopardstown; has won a point on soft ground; hard enough to assess but not much of a surprise if he played a hand.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

37

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Amirite

10st 2lb

T: Henry De Bromhead

A fluent fourth in the 2m5f Topham over these fences was the first of three big runs in good handicaps last April-July; ran creditably in one (Sandown in April 2024) of his three attempts at 3m4f-3m5f and excuses might be made for his latest two outings (first cross-country, then the mud) but other candidates are more persuasive.

80/1

2

5th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 6f 198y

16:05 Thurles

Amirite

11st 0lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Made all in Kilbeggan chase (3m1f, good) last July; fourth of 22 in Galway Plate later that month; tailed off in cross-country handicap chase at Cheltenham in December; should leave that run well behind down in trip back over hurdles.

5/2

OUR TIP

Form: 185-11 D

Last run: 99 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dual winner of a bumper, over hurdles and over fences; gained his second win over fences in a three-runner contest at Cheltenham in October quite emphatically, although tempered by the fact that his two opponents ran way below their best; most of his form is on better ground and has to give weight, but one of the ones to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

12

2nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 90y

14:30 Punchestown

Chemical Energy

11st 7lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Very smart as a novice and some good runs in the Galway Plate and Munster National in 2024; generally ineffective in cross-country races since then however, reportedly burst blood vessels when fifth in this race last year, most recently (after two point-to-point wins) pulled up after never counting in 3m1f Fairyhouse hunter-chase at Easter; questions remain.

9/2

3

5th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 180y

17:30 Fairyhouse

Chemical Energy

12st 0lb

J: Mr H C Swan

T: Gordon Elliott

High-class novice chaser in the 2022/23 season, when second in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham; ran well in the Galway Plate and Munster National in 2024; generally ineffective in cross-country races since then; back-to-back point wins in the autumn offer some hope; however, he was tailed off in the hunter chase at Cheltenham last month.

9/1

11th

3

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

16:40 Cheltenham

Chemical Energy

12st 0lb

J: Mr B O’Neill

T: Gordon Elliott

Won a novice chase here in October 2022 and second in the NH Chase at this fixture that season; on a losing run of 14 under rules but contested plenty of strong handicaps in that time and back-to-back point wins in the autumn may give him some renewed belief; has soft-ground form but his trainer has always believed that good ground is ideal, so watch the weather; well held in a Galway Plate when tried in this equipment combination.

12/1

Form: /63532

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Maiden hurdle winner for Willie Mullins in 2020 but well beaten in five runs over fences for his current stable and makes little appeal; needs to have his sights lowered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

12th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 4f 0y

16:17 Naas

Francin

11st 0lb

J: Mr R A Berry

T: J A Berry

Useful sort for Willie Mullins but has been well-held when facing mostly stiff tasks for this yard; another one today and best passed over.

100/1

8

26th Feb 2023

Yielding

2m 4f 0y

14:40 Naas

Francin

10st 7lb

J: Mr J P Berry

T: J A Berry

Two hurdle wins for Willie Mullins in 2020, obtaining a mark of 142; well beaten in six completed chase starts for his current stable, all in decent company; in touch when falling four out in a Grade 3 event here in January; should find things easier now in his first handicap.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast €7.62

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Thedevilscoachman

TOPSPEED:

Ramillies

RP Ratings (IRE):

Chemical Energy

The Irish Sun:

Thedevilscoachman

POSTDATA:

Ramillies