January 05 / 13.25 Naas

13.25

Soft

Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 2)

  • Prize money: £18285.12
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • 5 runners
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Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 2)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sleet

OUR TIP

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 2357-1 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Rated 143 over hurdles; soundly beaten in third behind stablemate Ballyburn in Gallagher Novices' at Cheltenham; flopped in 2m Punchestown race in which Firefox was second to Mystical Power; got off to a good start over fences when making all to win over an extended 2m4f at Navan; jumping was fine; drop back in trip possibly not ideal
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Ile Atlantique

11st 7lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

His form/jumping have been in and out since his Grade 2 novice chase win at Naas last January, soundly beaten in a handicap at Leopardstown latest; however, two starts ago he followed Heart Wood home in a 2m7f Grade 3 at Tramore; could have a big say for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

15/2

8th

2

1st Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 107y

14:45 Leopardstown

Ile Atlantique

11st 12lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Hurdle winner and won twice over fences last season, including a Grade 2 at Naas; however, his form then fell away and twice failed to complete; signs of a resurgence when second to Heart Wood at Tramore last time and can go well if building on that.

9/1

4

29th Apr 2025

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 213y

16:50 Punchestown

Ile Atlantique

11st 10lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: W P Mullins

held up in rear, mistake 3rd, slightly hampered 5th, fell 10th

16/1

15/8

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 322-13 D BF

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
3-4 in bumpers, exception was when second at this venue; won only once over hurdles but smart form; placed in 2m Grade 1 contests at three spring festivals; two chase runs have been over 2m4f; jumped well for smooth win at Down Royal; failed to run to expectations when third in the Drinmore; on the positive side his winning stablemate Croke Park has boosted the form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

8

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Firefox

11st 4lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gordon Elliott

Tongue tied on last two starts; Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown (3m, soft) in February was also the first time he went beyond 2m5f, when 33-1 and spending most of the race out the back but running on into fourth of 12, beaten 14l; some encouragement might be derived from that but he didn't see it out so well when confronted by 3m2f in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

50/1

6th

2

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Firefox

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

He's performed respectably in defeat at the last two Cheltenham Festivals and won a Grade 2 at Down Royal (2m3f, good to yielding) in November; 14l fourth when upped in trip in the Irish Gold Cup (3m, soft) last month and he'll be doing very well if he improves upon that finishing position today.

33/1

4th

4

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 100y

15:30 Leopardstown

Firefox

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Gordon Elliott

Smart performer over shorter distances; ended last season with second to Spindleberry in 2m4f Grade 1 at Fairyhouse; made winning reappearance in five-runner Grade 2 event at Down Royal (2m3f, good to yielding) in November; outpointed by Iroko at Ascot last month; first time beyond 2m5f and tongue-tie tried; vulnerable.

66/1

Form: 41/2-1 C

Last run: 69 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Top novice hurdler in 2022/23 season, winning 2m Grade 1 at Aintree and 2m4f Grade 2 at this venue, also fourth in Supreme Novices'; ran only once last season, chasing home Facile Vega in a strong beginners' event at Navan; not seriously tested when scoring by 15l from subsequent winners Farren Glory and Ifiwerearichman at Wexford in October; strong chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

1

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Inthepocket

12st 0lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Henry De Bromhead

His fortunes over fences have been mixed but he made good headway in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham (2m, good) last month prior to falling two out; finest hour came when winning Grade 1 Top Novices' Hurdle here (2m, good to soft) in April 2023; could have a big say if avoiding mishap.

13/2

5

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Inthepocket

11st 5lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won Grade 1 Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree (2m, good to soft) in April 2023; he's raced seven times since, all over fences, with just one win (a beginners chase in October 2024) and he can be difficult to settle; however, he took a step back in the right direction when fifth of 14 in a handicap at Leopardstown (2m1f, soft) last month and is capable of building on that.

8/1

5th

1

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 1f 0y

16:05 Leopardstown

Inthepocket

11st 12lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: Henry De Bromhead

Grade 1 novice hurdle winner at Aintree in 2023; won a 2m Wexford beginners' chase last season; jumping frailties apparent in races at Naas; had an excuse (lost a shoe and suffered an overreach) at Navan in his first handicap; plenty to prove after a moderate fifth behind Western Diego at Fairyhouse.

12/1

Form: 126-34 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Winning hurdler; has run creditably in two races over fences, notably when fourth in a Grade 2 mares' contest at Cork; this is much more demanding.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

13

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 80y

17:25 Punchestown

Kilbarry Saint

10st 2lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: C O’Keeffe

Off the mark chasing on tenth attempt in 2m5f Clonmel mares' beginners last month (soft) but ultimately no match for a 10l winner nine days later in 2m5f Fairyhouse mares' handicap: front-runner should run her race but vulnerable.

12/1

2nd

3

4th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 45y

14:40 Fairyhouse

Kilbarry Saint

10st 10lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: C O’Keeffe

Off the mark chasing on tenth attempt in 2m5f Clonmel mares' beginners last month (soft): highly-tried on occasions, notably when second to Only By Night at Exeter last year and to Spindleberry at Clonmel in November; back in handicap company and can go well.

11/2

1st

4

26th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 63y

14:42 Clonmel

Kilbarry Saint

11st 7lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: C O’Keeffe

Campaigned in Graded company over last 18 months; produced some strong efforts, most notably when second to Only By Night at Exeter last year and to Spindleberry at Clonmel in November; two below-par efforts over fences since but appreciated step back up in trip with good run over hurdles last time at Punchestown; course winner over hurdles has the form to win this.

9/4

Form: P20745

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 11lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
90-rated winning hurdler; completely out of her depth in this grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

6th Aug 2025

Good

2m 3f 130y

18:42 Wexford

Walk In Time

10st 1lb

J: Shane O’Callaghan

T: David Harry Kelly

Dropped away tamely in a 2m7f contest at Killarney last time; fair chance if replicating the form of previous Tipperary second over the same trip; cheekpieces on now as well as the usual tongue-tie.

8/1

6th

8

18th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

16:15 Killarney

Walk In Time

11st 0lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: David Harry Kelly

Is 0-8 over fences but there were certainly signs she was getting the hang of things when beaten 3l at Tipperary earlier this month; up 2lb but a case can be made.

5/1

2nd

12

1st Jul 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 7f 35y

15:18 Tipperary

Walk In Time

10st 0lb

J: Peter Smithers

T: David Harry Kelly

Sole win came over hurdles here in 2023; has been below form on last three chase starts and has to do plenty better.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €6.00
Straight Forecast €7.62
Trifecta €7.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Inthepocket

POSTDATA:

Ile Atlantique

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Inthepocket

TOPSPEED:

Inthepocket

The Irish Sun:

Inthepocket