October 04 / 16.15 Gowran Park

16.15

Yielding

PWC Champion Chase (Grade 2)

  • Prize money: £21942.15
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
PWC Champion Chase (Grade 2)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

13/8 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 32-111 C

Last run: 66 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
Has improved in leaps and bounds since second over this trip at Clonmel in March; has looked very much at home over longer trips in landing a beginners' event at Tipperary, the Mayo National at Ballinrobe, and the Galway Plate; has gone up 19lb for his two handicap wins, making him the pick at these weights; shorter trip a concern, plenty going for him all the same.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

(16)

1st Sep 2026

Soft

1m 6f 0y

17:32 Gowran Park

Western Fold

9st 9lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: Gordon Elliott

Won last year's Galway Plate; Grade 2 winner over 2m4f at this venue last October; ended last season's novice chasing campaign with a surprise success in a 3m1f Grade 1 contest at the Punchestown festival; has a stamina-laden jumps pedigree and may lack the pace of some of these rivals.

6/1

1st

9

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

16:50 Punchestown

Western Fold

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Progressive in the first half of the season; won the Galway Plate, beat subsequent Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury at Gowran in October; second to Kaid d'Authie in an unsatisfactory four-runner DRF event; faded from three out in Brown Advisory; badly hampered and unseated two out in Fairyhouse Grade 1 won by Fleur In The Park.

12/1

OUR TIP

9/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: /15/2-

Last run: 241 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
High-class form in staying novice hurdles in the first half of 2023, twice runner-up in Grade 1 races; novice chase campaign two seasons ago was cut short after Galway win and a very disappointing run at Punchestown; ran only once last season, fine effort until making a bad mistake at the last in a 3m Fairyhouse event; this trip is shorter than ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 100y

15:30 Leopardstown

Affordale Fury

11st 10lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Noel Meade

A revelation this season; runner-up in a Gowran Grade 2 before chasing home Envoi Allen in Down Royal Grade 1; took advantage of a drop in class when scoring at Thurles; came of age with a terrific effort under a positive ride in the Savills here at Christmas; his race-fitness was possibly a major factor and several of his victims may be closer to peak shape now.

9/1

Form: 33-212 D BF

Last run: 62 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Has reached the first three in all nine completed starts over fences; three wins, the most recent was virtually meaningless when a 1-8 shot at Listowel in June; doubts raised by two cases of beaten favouritism from three starts last season, four instances earlier in his career, and another when failing to cope with Zanahiyr (his only serious rival) at Galway two months ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

2nd Aug 2026

Good

2m 2f 54y

15:30 Galway

Blood Destiny

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Handicap mark has been remarkably static for the past two years and he's just in that 'twilight zone' where he's difficult to place; they don't often run him in handicap chases and he's been pulled up the twice he's tried; beatable under a hefty impost.

4/1

2nd

1

1st Jun 2026

Yielding

2m 3f 0y

16:07 Listowel

Blood Destiny

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Versatile ground-wise; won this last year and has since added a fourth chase win in a Grade 3 at Naas; ran second to Energumene in a Grade 2 in April before his no-show in a Grade 1 last time; has clear claims back at this level, even having to concede weight all round.

Evs

5th

1

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 98y

18:05 Punchestown

Blood Destiny

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

One of four for Willie Mullins; gained a fourth chase win in a Naas Grade 3 in February; creditable effort when a 6l runner up behind Energumene in a Fairyhouse Grade 2 on latest; 3lb worse off with that rival here and looks set to play a supporting role again.

25/1

Form: 3140-P D

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Useful novice last season; slotted into handicaps effectively; seasonal highlight provided by victory in a 2m5f Listed handicap at Leopardstown in March; formerly trained by Sean Doyle; faded from three out and pulled up in the Kerry National on his first start for Jack Foley; this shorter trip may be closer to his optimum.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

5th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 0y

15:00 Cork

Monbeg Park

11st 8lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Jack Foley

Better known as a chaser but has shown smart hurdles form in the past; would have a squeak if back in top form off a lower hurdle mark.

14/1

9th

4

2nd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 120y

16:25 Leopardstown

Monbeg Park

11st 6lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: Jack Foley

Two wins include this race last year off 2lb lower; standout run this term when second in Grade 3 Punchestown contest (2m7f), tame effort last time (albeit stiff task) in Grade 2 at Thurles; not one to rule out back in handicap company.

15/2

4th

5

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 66y

15:20 Thurles

Monbeg Park

11st 3lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Jack Foley

Useful sort; best form at Punchestown, including when second to the talented Heart Wood three starts ago; 2-16 record over fences is not a great return bearing in mind his 147 rating; inferior to the four Mullins-trained runners on official figures

12/1

Form: 66214- C

Last run: 166 days

W: 11st 3lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Veteran whose chase record stands at 4-25, thanks to the addition of a handicap win at Wexford in April; not disgraced as a 33-1 outsider in a Grade 2 contest at Fairyhouse later that month, fourth of five finishers then, only one length behind Blood Destiny; may need this after a break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

7th Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 50y

15:08 Gowran Park

Rebel Gold

11st 12lb

J: Mr Alan O’Sullivan

T: Patrick T Foley

Veteran six-time winner; produced some good displays off much higher chase marks in 2025; continues to show plenty of zest, in front of Piccolo Player when third at Naas 13 days ago.

11/2

3rd

15

22nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

1m 7f 110y

15:00 Naas

Rebel Gold

10st 5lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Patrick T Foley

Veteran six-time winner; produced some good displays off much higher chase marks in 2025; weakened into a 19.5l third here last time (2m3f, heavy); 13l behind Peaceinthevalley on that occasion; hit the front early that day, so perhaps can get closer more patiently ridden.

16/1

3rd

8

25th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 2f 150y

14:25 Naas

Rebel Gold

11st 3lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Patrick T Foley

Veteran six-time winner; produced several good displays off his much higher chase mark during 2025; hard to be sure how effectively he will cope on his return to hurdling at the age of 13

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €4.50
Straight Forecast €4.28
Trifecta €7.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Western Fold

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Blood Destiny

TOPSPEED:

Western Fold

POSTDATA:

Western Fold

The Irish Sun:

Blood Destiny