15.27

5/2 (Won)

Win: £3.70

Form: 532FP- D

Last run: 297 days

W: 11st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Not a great strike-rate for one of his ability, just 2-11 over fences; campaigned at Grade 1 level on all but one of six starts last season, notably second to Allaho in both John Durkan and Ryanair Chase; didn't jump well when pulled up behind same rival at Punchestown final start; another to make a belated seasonal return and definite chance on his best form.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
3	27th Dec 2024 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 100y	15:00 Leopardstown Janidil 11st 10lb J: Aidan Kelly T: W P Mullins	visibility reduced by fog, slowly away, towards rear, fell 3rd	40/1
3	27th Dec 2024 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 100y	15:00 Leopardstown Janidil 11st 10lb J: Aidan Kelly T: W P Mullins	visibility reduced by fog, slowly away, towards rear, fell 3rd	40/1
7th 5	16th Nov 2024 Good 2m 4f 44y Class 1	14:20 Cheltenham Janidil 11st 0lb J: Brian Hayes T: W P Mullins	Has a poor strike-rate since winning a Grade 1 novice chase in April 2021 and current mark reflects a decline in his form; absent since disappointing in a Galway festival race that looked a good opportunity for him (was best in at the weights); new headgear needs to make a difference.	25/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

27th Dec 2024

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 100y

11st 10lb

visibility reduced by fog, slowly away, towards rear, fell 3rd

40/1

27th Dec 2024

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 100y

11st 10lb

visibility reduced by fog, slowly away, towards rear, fell 3rd

40/1

7th

16th Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

11st 0lb

Has a poor strike-rate since winning a Grade 1 novice chase in April 2021 and current mark reflects a decline in his form; absent since disappointing in a Galway festival race that looked a good opportunity for him (was best in at the weights); new headgear needs to make a difference.

25/1

2nd

Haut En Couleurs

J: Paul Townend

6/4

Form: F65-4F

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 155

Form & Verdict

Quite lightly raced 6yo struggled against the best in novice company last season but looked set fair to record career-best in Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles last month, having just taken the initiative when falling at the last; 2m4f seems to suit him well and if avoiding serious error, could take plenty of beating; Townend's choice.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
2nd 9	30th Nov 2023 Yielding 2m 6f 0y	12:40 Thurles Haut En Couleurs 11st 0lb J: Paul Townend T: W P Mullins	took keen hold, in touch with leaders, went second from 3 out, mistake and lost ground 2 out, soon pushed along, steadied last, kept on but no match for winner	100/30
4th 1	14th Apr 2023 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 1	16:05 Aintree Haut En Couleurs 12st 0lb J: Paul Townend T: W P Mullins	Second-season chaser; no top weight has won this since Dublin Flyer in 1995 but he's a genuine Grade 2 performer (at least) who wasn't beaten at all far under top weight at the Cheltenham Festival (2m4f, soft) and his class should see him competitive for a long way, at the least; still only a 6yo and the chosen one of Paul Townend; jumps well; big player.	10/1
5th 1	16th Mar 2023 Soft 2m 4f 127y Class 1	16:10 Cheltenham Haut En Couleurs 12st 0lb J: Michael O’Sullivan T: W P Mullins	Second-season chaser who has shown smart form in Grade 2 events over 2m4f the last twice, proving unlucky at Thurles (would likely have won but for final-fence fall) then second at Gowran behind Ryanair contender Janadil; still unexposed at this distance; seems versatile ground-wise; has the ability to play a major role on handicap debut.	13/2

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

2nd

30th Nov 2023

Yielding

2m 6f 0y

11st 0lb

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, went second from 3 out, mistake and lost ground 2 out, soon pushed along, steadied last, kept on but no match for winner

100/30

4th

14th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

12st 0lb

Second-season chaser; no top weight has won this since Dublin Flyer in 1995 but he's a genuine Grade 2 performer (at least) who wasn't beaten at all far under top weight at the Cheltenham Festival (2m4f, soft) and his class should see him competitive for a long way, at the least; still only a 6yo and the chosen one of Paul Townend; jumps well; big player.

10/1

5th

16th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:10 Cheltenham

Haut En Couleurs

12st 0lb

J: Michael O’Sullivan

Second-season chaser who has shown smart form in Grade 2 events over 2m4f the last twice, proving unlucky at Thurles (would likely have won but for final-fence fall) then second at Gowran behind Ryanair contender Janadil; still unexposed at this distance; seems versatile ground-wise; has the ability to play a major role on handicap debut.

13/2

3rd

Capodanno

J: Jody McGarvey

11/2

Form: 12U41-

Last run: 298 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 160

Form & Verdict

Has ended previous two campaigns with Punchestown festival wins, last year putting up career-best effort on fifth start chasing when landing 3m Grade 1 Champion Novice under a positive ride; somewhat belated seasonal return here over a trip a bit short of his best (holds Gold Cup entry) and along with weight concession makes this a tough task.

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

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

12st 2lb

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

22nd Feb 2025

Soft

3m 1f 165y

11st 8lb

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

10/1

OUR TIP

4th

7/2

Form: 723315 C

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 3lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict

Admirable sort equally effective over hurdles and fences, winning Red Mills Hurdle on this card back in 2019 and most recent of five chase wins came in 2m6f Thurles Listed contest in December; rare below-par effort when tough task at weights over inadequate trip in Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle on latest but should run his race here.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
14	15th Apr 2023 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1	17:15 Aintree Darasso 10st 13lb J: L P Dempsey T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien	Unraced beyond 3m, seen most often at about 2m; the three runs over 2m6f/3m among his last six starts have all been good, including second in the Galway Plate and third in the Kerry National, but this reliable 10yo would still have to show himself in a very new light for a prominent finish today.	66/1
4th 3	18th Feb 2023 Soft 2m 4f 0y	15:27 Gowran Park Darasso 11st 3lb J: L P Dempsey T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien	Admirable sort equally effective over hurdles and fences, winning Red Mills Hurdle on this card back in 2019 and most recent of five chase wins came in 2m6f Thurles Listed contest in December; rare below-par effort when tough task at weights over inadequate trip in Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle on latest but should run his race here.	7/2
5th 1	29th Jan 2023 Soft 1m 7f 151y	14:42 Naas Darasso 11st 12lb J: L P Dempsey T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien	A dozen career wins for this admirably tough performer, including most recently in a Listed chase at Thurles at the beginning of last month; won a weaker version of this race last year and undoubtedly wants further, but he's not alone in that; looks sure to run his race.	9/2

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

15th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

17:15 Aintree

10st 13lb

Unraced beyond 3m, seen most often at about 2m; the three runs over 2m6f/3m among his last six starts have all been good, including second in the Galway Plate and third in the Kerry National, but this reliable 10yo would still have to show himself in a very new light for a prominent finish today.

66/1

4th

18th Feb 2023

Soft

2m 4f 0y

15:27 Gowran Park

11st 3lb

7/2

5th

29th Jan 2023

Soft

1m 7f 151y

14:42 Naas

11st 12lb