14.30

13/2 (Won)

Win: £4.40
Place: £1.70

Form: /121-1

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Ran twice in France in 2020; easy winner of a Tramore maiden hurdle early last year; lost out by only a neck to the talented Jonbon in a Grade 1 contest at Aintree; confirmed that ability when dropped in class at Punchestown; never off the bridle on chasing debut at Fairyhouse, but jumping was a little erratic; will need to be more assured, every chance he will be.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
6th 2	9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1	16:05 Aintree El Fabiolo 11st 10lb J: Paul Townend T: W P Mullins	Probably acts on any going; high class over fences until jumping issues developed; has proved suited by the return to hurdles and an easy win at Leopardstown (2m2f) last time took his record in this sphere to 4-7; the best horse in this field if viewed on his peak chase form.	5/1
1st 2	2nd Mar 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 2f 72y	15:25 Leopardstown El Fabiolo 11st 7lb J: Paul Townend T: W P Mullins	Outstanding 2m novice chaser at his peak; became plagued by jumping frailties; fell in a number of Grade 1 contests; reverted to hurdles with a smooth 8.5l success at Punchestown on New Year's Day on seasonal return (2m3f, yielding), second won Gr.3 next time; this is much easier than the Irish Champion Hurdle (2m, heavy) last time, in which he finished last of five; huge chance.	10/11
5th 3	1st Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 0f 0y	15:20 Leopardstown El Fabiolo 11st 12lb J: J J Slevin T: W P Mullins	An outstanding 2m novice chaser at his peak; became plagued by jumping frailties; fell last season in Grade 1 races here, at Aintree and at Punchestown; return to hurdling did the trick at Punchestown a month ago, beating subsequent Grade 3 hurdle winner Glen Kiln and Cotswold Chase winner Spillane's Tower.	10/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

6th

2

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

11st 10lb

Probably acts on any going; high class over fences until jumping issues developed; has proved suited by the return to hurdles and an easy win at Leopardstown (2m2f) last time took his record in this sphere to 4-7; the best horse in this field if viewed on his peak chase form.

5/1

1st

2

2nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 2f 72y

11st 7lb

Outstanding 2m novice chaser at his peak; became plagued by jumping frailties; fell in a number of Grade 1 contests; reverted to hurdles with a smooth 8.5l success at Punchestown on New Year's Day on seasonal return (2m3f, yielding), second won Gr.3 next time; this is much easier than the Irish Champion Hurdle (2m, heavy) last time, in which he finished last of five; huge chance.

10/11

5th

3

1st Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

11st 12lb

An outstanding 2m novice chaser at his peak; became plagued by jumping frailties; fell last season in Grade 1 races here, at Aintree and at Punchestown; return to hurdling did the trick at Punchestown a month ago, beating subsequent Grade 3 hurdle winner Glen Kiln and Cotswold Chase winner Spillane's Tower.

10/1

2nd

2

J: J J Slevin

13/2

Place: £1.70

Form: 10-113 D

Last run: 62 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict

Won last season's Martin Pipe before an unaccountably bad Grade 1 run at Aintree; jumped well and made all to an easy win over 2m4f at Gowran on chasing debut; untroubled by the drop to 2m when beating subsequent Doncaster Grade 2 winner Tommy's Oscar at Cheltenham in November; now back down in trip again after a fairly tame third over 2m4f in the Drinmore.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
3	11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1	16:00 Aintree Banbridge 11st 11lb J: J J Slevin T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien	So nearly won his second King George at Kempton over Christmas but, although he's a class act, excelling over 3m on good ground at that speed track doesn't mean that this test will suit him; his moderate late headway in the extended 2m4f Grade 1 Ryanair at Cheltenham last month isn't that persuasive either.	50/1
3rd 1	12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 127y Class 1	16:00 Cheltenham Banbridge 11st 10lb J: Sean Bowen T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien	Won the Martin Pipe over hurdles at this meeting in 2022 as well as a novice chase here that year, but Kempton is where his heart lies, having won the Grade 1 King George (3m, good) in 2024 and gone desperately close in the same race (first-time visor, retained here) on Boxing Day; however, he's been beaten a long way out at the last two Festivals, in this race and the Gold Cup, and a flat track may now be ideal; has something to prove.	6/1
4th 1	30th Apr 2025 Yielding 3m 0f 213y	17:30 Punchestown Banbridge 11st 10lb J: J J Slevin T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien	jumped left on occasions, raced in third, went second 6th, struggling and lost second 3 out, weakening when lost third before 2 out, tailed off	4/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

3

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

11st 11lb

J: J J Slevin

So nearly won his second King George at Kempton over Christmas but, although he's a class act, excelling over 3m on good ground at that speed track doesn't mean that this test will suit him; his moderate late headway in the extended 2m4f Grade 1 Ryanair at Cheltenham last month isn't that persuasive either.

50/1

3rd

1

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

Won the Martin Pipe over hurdles at this meeting in 2022 as well as a novice chase here that year, but Kempton is where his heart lies, having won the Grade 1 King George (3m, good) in 2024 and gone desperately close in the same race (first-time visor, retained here) on Boxing Day; however, he's been beaten a long way out at the last two Festivals, in this race and the Gold Cup, and a flat track may now be ideal; has something to prove.

6/1

4th

1

30th Apr 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

17:30 Punchestown

11st 10lb

J: J J Slevin

jumped left on occasions, raced in third, went second 6th, struggling and lost second 3 out, weakening when lost third before 2 out, tailed off

4/1

OUR TIP

3rd

1

Appreciate It

J: Paul Townend

11/8

Place: £1.10

Form: 1/7-11 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

2021 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner; only run last season was when down the field in the Champion Hurdle; made a smooth introduction to chasing when trouncing Top Bandit at Punchestown in December; cruised to a Naas win in a race that lacked depth; faces first serious task over fences but obviously a very strong candidate and likely market-leader.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
1st 1	18th Jan 2026 Yielding 2m 4f 66y	15:20 Thurles Appreciate It 11st 8lb J: Paul Townend T: W P Mullins	Former top-class novice hurdler still going strong at the veteran stage; beat two shorter-priced stablemates in this race last season; brought down at the 21st in the Grand National; smart form when chasing home stablemate Gaelic Warrior in the Oaksey Chase at Sandown; resumed with second to Affordale Fury here in November; form franked in the Savills.	10/11
2nd 1	26th Apr 2025 Good 2m 6f 164y Class 1	14:25 Sandown Appreciate It 11st 8lb J: Sean O’Keeffe T: W P Mullins	11yo who ended a long losing run when beating stablemate Classic Getaway by 6l in Grade 2 at Thurles in January (2m5f, good); brought down ten fences out in the Grand National three weeks ago; it's possible he might run into a place but a few of the others have stronger claims.	16/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

1st

1

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 66y

11st 8lb

Former top-class novice hurdler still going strong at the veteran stage; beat two shorter-priced stablemates in this race last season; brought down at the 21st in the Grand National; smart form when chasing home stablemate Gaelic Warrior in the Oaksey Chase at Sandown; resumed with second to Affordale Fury here in November; form franked in the Savills.

10/11

2nd

1

26th Apr 2025

Good

2m 6f 164y

Class 1

11st 8lb

11yo who ended a long losing run when beating stablemate Classic Getaway by 6l in Grade 2 at Thurles in January (2m5f, good); brought down ten fences out in the Grand National three weeks ago; it's possible he might run into a place but a few of the others have stronger claims.

16/1

4th

3

Dysart Dynamo

J: Danny Mullins

5/2

Form: 11F5-1 CD

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Unbeaten in two bumpers and won his first two starts over hurdles, including a 2m Grade 2 event at Punchestown by 19l; joint-favourite with Constitution Hill for the Supreme Novices, fell three out when travelling well; clinically abnormal when flopping at Punchestown; jumped notably well when winning unextended over C&D on chasing debut; exciting prospect.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
5th 4	30th Apr 2024 Yielding 2m 0f 98y	17:25 Punchestown Dysart Dynamo 11st 12lb J: Sean O’Keeffe T: W P Mullins	Free-going sort; smart novice hurdler and equally good novice chaser last season, though no match for stablemate El Fabiolo on a few occasions in Grade 1 races; odds-on for Navan return in February when well held in third behind the 9lb-conceding Captain Guinness; beaten when falling at the last in Leopardstown event won by Dinoblue at Christmas.	14/1
5th 4	30th Apr 2024 Yielding 2m 0f 98y	17:25 Punchestown Dysart Dynamo 11st 12lb J: Sean O’Keeffe T: W P Mullins	Free-going sort; smart novice hurdler and equally good novice chaser last season, though no match for stablemate El Fabiolo on a few occasions in Grade 1 races; odds-on for Navan return in February when well held in third behind the 9lb-conceding Captain Guinness; beaten when falling at the last in Leopardstown event won by Dinoblue at Christmas.	14/1
0 2	27th Dec 2023 Yielding 2m 1f 0y	13:10 Leopardstown Dysart Dynamo 11st 12lb J: Danny Mullins T: W P Mullins	soon raced in fourth behind clear leader, went third after 4 out, brief headway 2 out, soon pushed along and weakened, fell last	10/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

5th

4

30th Apr 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 98y

11st 12lb

Free-going sort; smart novice hurdler and equally good novice chaser last season, though no match for stablemate El Fabiolo on a few occasions in Grade 1 races; odds-on for Navan return in February when well held in third behind the 9lb-conceding Captain Guinness; beaten when falling at the last in Leopardstown event won by Dinoblue at Christmas.

14/1

5th

4

30th Apr 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 98y

11st 12lb

Free-going sort; smart novice hurdler and equally good novice chaser last season, though no match for stablemate El Fabiolo on a few occasions in Grade 1 races; odds-on for Navan return in February when well held in third behind the 9lb-conceding Captain Guinness; beaten when falling at the last in Leopardstown event won by Dinoblue at Christmas.

14/1

0

2

27th Dec 2023

Yielding

2m 1f 0y

11st 12lb

soon raced in fourth behind clear leader, went third after 4 out, brief headway 2 out, soon pushed along and weakened, fell last

10/1

5th

8

Fil Dor

J: Davy Russell

T: Gordon Elliott

12/1

Form: 22-213 C BF

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Second to Vauban in three juvenile hurdle Grade 1s last season; switched to fences after odds-on defeat at Naas on seasonal debut; took advantage of 8lb concession from Saint Roi at Navan, jumping well; made a critical mistake three out when third behind Saint Roi and Visionarian here at Christmas; tongue-tie (worn once in France) and first-time cheekpieces now.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
2 (7)	2nd Sep 2025 Good 1m 6f 0y	17:37 Gowran Park Fil Dor 9st 9lb J: Chris Hayes T: Gordon Elliott	Smart jumper with four wins over hurdles and two over fences including in Grade 2 company; was runner-up on sole Flat start in France in 2021 over this trip; might find this trip a bit sharp now but should run a big race.	11/2
2nd 3	20th Apr 2025 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 100y	15:57 Cork Fil Dor 11st 0lb J: Danny Gilligan T: Gordon Elliott	raced in second, challenging when briefly left in lead 2 out, soon faced challenge, headed approaching last, no chance with winner run-in	100/30
2nd 3	20th Apr 2025 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 100y	15:57 Cork Fil Dor 11st 0lb J: Danny Gilligan T: Gordon Elliott	raced in second, challenging when briefly left in lead 2 out, soon faced challenge, headed approaching last, no chance with winner run-in	100/30

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

2

(7)

2nd Sep 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

9st 9lb

Smart jumper with four wins over hurdles and two over fences including in Grade 2 company; was runner-up on sole Flat start in France in 2021 over this trip; might find this trip a bit sharp now but should run a big race.

11/2

2nd

3

20th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 100y

11st 0lb

raced in second, challenging when briefly left in lead 2 out, soon faced challenge, headed approaching last, no chance with winner run-in

100/30

2nd

3

20th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 100y

11st 0lb

raced in second, challenging when briefly left in lead 2 out, soon faced challenge, headed approaching last, no chance with winner run-in

100/30

6th

7

Visionarian

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Peter Fahey

25/1

Form: 0-1122

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict

Useful 134-rated hurdler; won his first two starts over fences in July, a 2m Wexford beginners' event and a 2m2f Galway Grade 3 novice; another sound display when second to Adamantly Chosen at Punchestown; produced spirited display as the 25-1 outsider of five when splitting Saint Roi and odds-on favourite Fil Dor here at Christmas.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
1	23rd Aug 2025 Good 2m 4f 180y	16:50 Killarney Visionarian 11st 12lb J: Keith Donoghue T: Gavin Cromwell	Dropping down the ratings since he won a three-runner Grade 2 contest at Gowran last autumn; no signs of a revival at Wexford last month when finishing well behind; it is hard to fancy him at the moment.	22/1
9th 1	4th Jul 2025 Good 2m 3f 110y	16:25 Wexford Visionarian 11st 12lb J: Keith Donoghue T: Gavin Cromwell	Winner of a three-runner Grade 2 at Gowran in October (2m4f, good); well held in stronger Graded contests; poor run in a DRF handicap chase and pulled up when last seen in a handicap chase at the Punchestown festival last time from a 3lb higher mark.	18/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

1

23rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 180y

11st 12lb

Dropping down the ratings since he won a three-runner Grade 2 contest at Gowran last autumn; no signs of a revival at Wexford last month when finishing well behind; it is hard to fancy him at the moment.

22/1

9th

1

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 110y

11st 12lb

Winner of a three-runner Grade 2 at Gowran in October (2m4f, good); well held in stronger Graded contests; poor run in a DRF handicap chase and pulled up when last seen in a handicap chase at the Punchestown festival last time from a 3lb higher mark.

18/1

7th

5

Flame Bearer

J: Brian Hayes

16/1

Form: 112-31 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Dual Grade 2 novice hurdle winner for Pat Doyle last season, runner-up to State Man in Punchestown Grade 1; beaten odds-on favourite on his chase/yard debut over 2m4f at Naas in November; jumped well until untidy at the second-last, reportedly finishing tired; effectively only a schooling session at Fairyhouse three weeks ago, bad mistake at the last a little concerning.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
1st 4	9th Apr 2023 Soft 2m 3f 170y	16:55 Fairyhouse Flame Bearer 11st 10lb J: Sean O’Keeffe T: W P Mullins	led, jumped slightly left 2nd, joined 5th, not fluent when pecked on landing 5 out, soon joined, faced challenge but going okay before 3 out, ridden after 2 out, tired jump when not fluent last, ridden out, just did enough	17/2
1st 4	18th Mar 2023 Soft 2m 2f 0y	14:30 Thurles Flame Bearer 11st 1lb J: Paul Townend T: W P Mullins	prominent, not fluent 4th, went second halfway, led narrowly after 2 out, clear approaching last, easily	5/2
3rd 2	4th Mar 2023 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 0y	16:20 Navan Flame Bearer 11st 1lb J: Paul Townend T: W P Mullins	Dual Grade 2 novice hurdle winner for Pat Doyle last season, runner-up to State Man in Punchestown Grade 1; beaten odds-on favourite on chase/yard debut over 2m4f at Naas in November; faced no meaningful opposition when winning at Fairyhouse; put a blot on his record with a poor round of jumping in Grade 1 Leopardstown event won by stablemate El Fabiolo.	7/4

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

1st

4

9th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 3f 170y

11st 10lb

led, jumped slightly left 2nd, joined 5th, not fluent when pecked on landing 5 out, soon joined, faced challenge but going okay before 3 out, ridden after 2 out, tired jump when not fluent last, ridden out, just did enough

17/2

1st

4

18th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 2f 0y

11st 1lb

prominent, not fluent 4th, went second halfway, led narrowly after 2 out, clear approaching last, easily

5/2

3rd

2

4th Mar 2023

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 0y

11st 1lb

Dual Grade 2 novice hurdle winner for Pat Doyle last season, runner-up to State Man in Punchestown Grade 1; beaten odds-on favourite on chase/yard debut over 2m4f at Naas in November; faced no meaningful opposition when winning at Fairyhouse; put a blot on his record with a poor round of jumping in Grade 1 Leopardstown event won by stablemate El Fabiolo.

7/4

6

Saint Roi

J: Mark Walsh