December 03 / 14.00 Fairyhouse

14.00

Soft

Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £44380.53
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • 5 runners
RTE1
View Course
Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £12.90
  • Place: £2.70

Form: 22441- C

Last run: 237 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 158

Form & Verdict
Beaten in beginners' chases at this venue and by the smart Gentlemansgame at Leopardstown before fourth in two Grade 1 events, notably behind The Real Whacker in the Brown Advisory; overcame tendencies to race lazily at times and to jump to the left when landing the 3m5f Irish Grand National at this venue; trip looks inadequate.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

I Am Maximus

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

His only three long-distance events resulted in an Irish National win in 2023, a storming success in this race in 2024 (soft) and a valiant second, from further off the pace, in repeat bid here in 2025 (good to soft); what a record that is, and 50-1 second in a 3m Grade 1 at Leopardstown on penultimate start gives every encouragement that all his ability remains; the return of cheekpieces (tried once in 2022) is interesting but, off 1lb higher than last year, he should be set for another prominent finish.

7/1

5th

8

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 100y

15:30 Leopardstown

I Am Maximus

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: W P Mullins

Won the 2023 Irish National and a brilliant winner of the 2024 Grand National; gave a terrific display to split his stablemates Nick Rockett and Grangeclare West at Aintree last season; tailed off in the John Durkan on reappearance; spirited display when keeping on for second in the Savills after being hampered at the last; adds substance to the stable's challenge.

10/1

9/4

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 1284-1 C

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner at Boulta two years ago; runaway winner of a maiden hurdle at this venue in January before being just denied by the talented Corbetts Cross in a Naas Grade 2; failed to prosper in Grade 1 company at Aintree and Punchestown; made all to win readily over just a bit shorter than this on chasing debut at Down Royal; stable has won six out of the last ten editions.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 180y

16:20 Fairyhouse

Found A Fifty

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Eight-time chase winner; beat Majborough and Energumene at Cork in December; won this race last year, holding off the late challenge of Saint Sam (Blood Destiny a 7.25l third); pulled up in the Champion Chase last time, but this is more his level and he is the one to beat.

7/4

3

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Found A Fifty

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Fared best of the rest behind the impressive winner in the 2024 Arkle but weakened into last of five finishers in this contest last season and has largely fallen short at Grade 1 level in open company; beaten 19l by Majborough at this year's Dublin Racing Festival and flopped when back down in class at Navan (2m4f; blowing hard post race) later in February.

33/1

4th

2

28th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 90y

16:08 Navan

Found A Fifty

11st 8lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Eight-time chase winner, including the 2m Fortria at this venue twice; beat top-class mare Dinoblue in this season's edition and then took the notable scalp of Majborough in the Hilly Way at Cork; has since suffered two heavy defeats in 2m1f Grade 1 races at Leopardstown; now back over 2m4f for the first time since beating Saint Sam at Fairyhouse last April.

13/8

OUR TIP

Form: 144-11 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
High-class bumper horse; took time to make an impact as a novice hurdler last season after a long absence; managed creditable fourth placings in the Albert Bartlett and in 2m4f Grade 1 at Aintree; beat the subsequent Munster National second Largy Debut readily on chasing debut at Gowran; no trouble following up in Grade 3 event at Cork.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

14th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 168y

Class 1

13:30 Cheltenham

Letsbeclearaboutit

11st 7lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Has raced only on softer than good; ran well (fourth) in the Albert Bartlett over 3m here 12 months ago but failed to show his form when back at similar trip on latest chase start; promising record at 2m4f over fences, winning twice then solid third in Grade 1; however, he's the wrong age according to the stats (no horse older than eight has won this prize).

25/1

3rd

1

28th Jan 2024

Heavy

3m 0f 174y

14:45 Naas

Letsbeclearaboutit

11st 6lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

held up in rear, headway and went third before 5 out, raced wide from 3 out, outpaced approaching last

9/4

3rd

3

13th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 1f 60y

13:57 Fairyhouse

Letsbeclearaboutit

11st 9lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Has seemingly improved for a fence and a step up in trip to 2m4f this season; ran with credit in the Drinmore here when last seen; has more to give over fences but a return to this sort of trip is the main question mark; not one to put a line through.

5/2

Form: 24-211 D

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Six-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles with four of those gained in Leopardstown's 2m Matheson Hurdle; connections left it late to go chasing but he has adapted well; won readily from a subsequent handicap winner over 2m2f at Galway; jumped well when landing 2m4f Grade 3 event at Tipperary in effortless fashion.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

30th Apr 2024

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

18:00 Punchestown

Sharjah

11st 10lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

High-class hurdler had been mixing it at the top level over fences this season at shorter trips before third chase win when dropped in grade at Ayr 10 days ago, patiently ridden and seeing the 3m out well when giving away lumps of weight in novice handicap; drying ground should help his cause and not one to rule out.

10/1

6th

6

30th Apr 2024

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

18:00 Punchestown

Sharjah

11st 10lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

High-class hurdler had been mixing it at the top level over fences this season at shorter trips before third chase win when dropped in grade at Ayr 10 days ago, patiently ridden and seeing the 3m out well when giving away lumps of weight in novice handicap; drying ground should help his cause and not one to rule out.

10/1

1st

1

20th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:50 Ayr

Sharjah

12st 0lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Top-class hurdler who has shown a good level of form over fences, banging his head against a wall in Grade 1s in his last four appearances; finished fourth in last season's County Hurdle in his last handicap assignment and that was off an 8lb higher mark; may run well, though stamina could be an issue on this belated first run beyond 2m4f.

10/1

Form: 241-1F

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a valuable 3m handicap hurdle at Leopardstown in February, earning promotion to 135; jumped well and won easily on his chasing debut at Galway, though the runner-up suffered bad interference mid-race; in touch with the leaders when falling three out in Grade 3 Cork event won by shorter-priced stablemate Letsbeclearaboutit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

25th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 80y

18:35 Ballinrobe

Perceval Legallois

11st 12lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Talented sort won Paddy Power at Leopardstown in 2024 and valuable handicap hurdle back there at last year's DRF; only 10-1 for last year's Grand National where he fell early on; well back when unseating 4 out in the National last month and pulled up at Punchestown; has worn a tongue-tie before, cheekpieces now added.

16/1

3

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 104y

15:45 Punchestown

Perceval Legallois

11st 10lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Won major 3m handicaps at Leopardstown last season over fences and hurdles; light campaign this term with Aintree in mind but never counted before unseating four out in National last month; fresher horse than most of these so could improve but certainly needs to.

20/1

23

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Perceval Legallois

10st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Gavin Cromwell

Won major 3m handicaps at Leopardstown over fences (by 7l, going away) and hurdles before starting joint-third favourite for last year's National, but he fell on the first circuit; it's too early to forget his best performance (Christmas 2024) but with nothing to shout about in his two races this winter, this time he could be an outsider.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €33.30
Straight Forecast €40.22
Trifecta €77.20

Selections

POSTDATA:

Letsbeclearaboutit

SPOTLIGHT:

Found A Fifty

RP RATINGS (IRE):

I Am Maximus

TOPSPEED:

Sharjah

The Irish Sun:

Letsbeclearaboutit