October 15 / 16.05 Punchestown

16.05

Good

BetVictor Chase (Grade 3)

  • Prize money: £18285.12
  • 2m 7f 39y
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
BetVictor Chase (Grade 3)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 11127-

Last run: 195 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
Won two Grade 1 novice chases last December, beating Heart Wood in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse before accounting for Better Days Ahead at Leopardstown; 5l second to Ballyburn at the same venue in February; disappointing at Aintree; Western Fold's race fitness could be decisive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

6

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Croke Park

11st 4lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Gordon Elliott

Won two Grade 1 novice chases in December 2024 (2m4f/3m, yielding/good to yielding); he hasn't kicked on this term and was well beaten in a handicap at Leopardstown (2m5f, soft) in February, but getting back on better ground may help and he can go well if tapping back into last season's promise.

20/1

13th

1

1st Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 5f 107y

14:45 Leopardstown

Croke Park

11st 12lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Dual hurdle winner turned into a top-class novice chaser last season, winning two Grade 1s including over 3m at this track; was also a fine runner-up in a Grade 1 over C&D at this meeting last year; hasn't been at that level in four starts since, but drops in grade with a 5lb claimer aboard, so has to be respected.

16/1

Form: P-9425 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 0lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Veteran with 1-38 record over fences; that sole success in the confined Bishopscourt Cup here at the 2023 festival. making up the numbers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

28th Aug 2026

Good

3m 1f 0y

19:38 Wexford

Fr Gilligansvoyge

11st 3lb

J: Eoghan Finegan

T: John G Carr

Somehow, the veteran has found top form at the ripe age of 13, three wins over the summer include at Tramore and most recently over 3m2f at Kilbeggan a week ago, winning handily; up 7lb for latest but in the form of his life and has to enter calculations.

11/2

1st

10

21st Aug 2026

Good

3m 1f 180y

19:05 Kilbeggan

Fr Gilligansvoyge

10st 11lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: John G Carr

Somehow, the veteran has found top form at the ripe age of 13; won at Downpatrick in June off 72 (3m, good) and held form well when placed twice at Wexford over 2m4f/3m1f; landed a third career success when an easy winner at Tramore last time (2m6f, good); up 6lb for that but has to be on the shortlist considering his form.

5/1

1st

12

14th Aug 2026

Good

2m 5f 180y

17:40 Tramore

Fr Gilligansvoyge

10st 5lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: John G Carr

Veteran; won at Downpatrick in June off 3lb lower and has held form well since; weakened late at Wexford last time (24.5f, good); drops in trip and was runner up to Menas Miracle here in June; chance.

7/1

Form: 1242P- D BF

Last run: 177 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 160

Form & Verdict
Beat Corbetts Cross readily in a three-runner event at Wexford (2m7f, soft) on reappearance last October; just denied by Croke Park in the Drinmore; faded into fourth in Savills Chase at Leopardstown; enhanced his reputation with a fine second to Fact To File in the Ryanair; pulled a shoe when flopping at Fairyhouse at Easter; can go well when fresh; big chance at these weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

15:30 Aintree

Heart Wood

11st 10lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

8yo who made his Grade 1 breakthrough in the Ryanair at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) last month; that 10l victory was a career-best performance and he will be tough to beat if reproducing the same scintillating form today; ran well in the Mildmay at this meeting in 2024 on sole run here.

11/8

1st

4

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Heart Wood

11st 10lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Has yet to win at above Grade 3 level although he only just failed against Croke Park in a less competitive Grade 1 than this at Fairyhouse (2m4f, yielding) in December 2024; he enjoyed his front-running role when winning at Tramore (2m7f, soft) in January when never seriously challenged and it's likely he will be ridden more prominently today than when no match for Fact To File in this race (good to soft) last March; he will still do well to fend off that winner but another place is perfectly achievable.

10/1

4

15th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 39y

16:05 Punchestown

Heart Wood

11st 0lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Beat Corbetts Cross readily in a three-runner event at Wexford (2m7f, soft) on reappearance last October; just denied by Croke Park in the Drinmore; faded into fourth in Savills Chase at Leopardstown; enhanced his reputation with a fine second to Fact To File in the Ryanair; pulled a shoe when flopping at Fairyhouse at Easter; can go well when fresh; big chance at these weights.

11/8

Form: 210354

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Highly tried since a Roscommon success in June, not in the same league as some of these.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

2nd Aug 2026

Good

2m 2f 54y

15:30 Galway

Itsalladream

10st 0lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: Paul John Gilligan

Course maiden hurdle winner was over-faced several times over fences after winning a Roscommon novice which fell apart last summer; has the beating of Blood Destiny on Listowel running two runs back, and little wrong with his 6l fourth to Lisleigh Lad on handicap debut at Wexford, where he didn't quite see it out over a furlong farther.

12/1

4th

6

3rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 3f 110y

19:25 Wexford

Itsalladream

10st 8lb

J: Gavin Brouder

T: Paul John Gilligan

Highly tried and has cut little ice, including thrice at Grade 3 level, since winning a 2m novice at Roscommon last summer; appeared to run well behind much higher-rated rivals in conditions contest at Listowel last time, but marksman left him alone; capable of being competitive in first handicap.

10/1

5th

3

1st Jun 2026

Yielding

2m 3f 0y

16:07 Listowel

Itsalladream

11st 6lb

J: Jack G Gilligan

T: Paul John Gilligan

Has won a maiden hurdle and a novice chase; has looked a bit outclassed in Grade 3s in his last three races and a similar scenario seems likely in this company (well behind Jesse Evans last time).

50/1

Form: 140-P4 C

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Useful novice last season; 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; remote fourth behind Western Fold in Grade 2 at Gowran.
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: -628F4 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Handicap winner on this card 12 months ago; out of her depth in a race of this standard; rider unable to claim his allowance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

3rd Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 0y

15:25 Leopardstown

Pebble Bleu

11st 3lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: Colin Motherway

Hit form over hurdles this season, winning three times since November, going up 20lb in the weights; was poor in a Grade 3 last time and has to rebound even dropping in grade.

4/1

1st

6

4th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 0y

15:58 Punchestown

Pebble Bleu

11st 3lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: Colin Motherway

Won handicaps at Tramore (2m5f) and Thurles (2m6f) lately, with a poor run at the former track in between; has been raised 8lb but gets in with a 7lb penalty so should go close with a repeat performance.

11/4

1st

10

29th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 126y

16:25 Thurles

Pebble Bleu

10st 6lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: Colin Motherway

Chase winner gained first hurdle win when landing a late gamble at Tramore off 90 in November (2m5f, soft; form boosted); disappointed in follow-up bid but raced on the deepest ground by the rail which proved costly; worth another chance with Mikey Kenneally taking off a valuable 7lb.

10/1

Non-runners

Western Fold

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Western Fold

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Heart Wood

The Irish Sun:

Croke Park

POSTDATA:

Western Fold

TOPSPEED:

Heart Wood