15:00 Leopardstown

Sunday 4 February 2018

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Flogas Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 5m 34.8s

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Selected odds by:

Al Boum Photo⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| BF

9/1

Made a winning chase debut at Navan (2m1f, soft-to-heavy) in November and likely to follow up when coming down at the last in a Grade 2 at Limerick subsequently. Stepping up in grade today.

Form: 3115-1F

Bon Papa^t1³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: M P Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139

25/1

Broke his maiden over fences at the first attempt when victorious at Punchestown (2m, soft-to-heavy) in November. Respectable third in a Grade 1 subsequently but more needed with a tongue tie fitted for the first time today.

Form: F1P8-13

Dounikos⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 147

25/1

Unbeaten in two starts over fences but likely to have finished behind Al Boum Photo if that rival stood up at Limerick last time. Interesting to see how he fares today.

Form: 1249-11

Invitation Only²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153

7/2

Winner of two of his three chase starts to date most recently in a Grade 3 contest at Punchestown (2m4f, soft-to-heavy) last time out. One for the shortlist representing a stable that have won this six of the ten renewals of this event.

Form: 136-F11

Koshari²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: W P Mullins| OR: 147

25/1

Finished runner-up to stablemate Invitation Only at Punchestown (soft-to-heavy) last time out. Successful at Thurles prior to that but likely to find at least one too good today.

Form: 51/14-12

Monalee³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: N D Fehily| T: H De Bromhead| BF

11/4

Made the perfect start to his chasing career when winning over 2m4f at Punchestown (soft-to-heavy) in November. Fell here subsequently but was a class novice hurdler last season and remains of interest today.

Form: 2124-1F

Rathvinden³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152

12/1

Gained plenty of experience over fences last sumer and ran well to finish runner-up in a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse (2m4f, soft) in December. Brought down here last time and may surprise a few better fancied rivals today.

Form: 13112B

Snow Falcon³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: S W Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 150| CD

12/1

Placed at the highest level over hurdles and off the mark at the third attempt over fences when winning over C&D on yielding ground in December. Represents a leading stable who have won two the last three runnings of this.

Form: 538-231

Sutton Place^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: G Elliott| D

11/4

Three time Graded winner over hurdles but pulled up on his final start in that sphere at Punchestown over 3m in April. Beat a subsequent winner on chase debut at Fairyhouse (2m5f, heavy) last month and is one for the shortlist today.

Form: 11/11P-1

The Storyteller²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: K M Donoghue| T: G Elliott| OR: 147| D

20/1

Made a winning chase debut at Fairyhouse (2m5f, soft) in December but could finish only third to today's rival Invitation Only at Punchestown (2m4f, soft-to-heavy) last time and more needed in this contest.

Form: 211-213

Tombstone⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 147

25/1

Successful twice over fences most recently in a Grade 3 at Navan (2m1f, soft) in December. Held by a few of today's rivals on Limerick running later that month and others make more appeal.

Form: 8-21212

Forecasts

Monalee (11/4), Sutton Place (11/4), Invitation Only (7/2), Al Boum Photo (9/1), Snow Falcon (12/1), Rathvinden (12/1), The Storyteller (20/1), Dounikos (25/1), Tombstone (25/1), Bon Papa (25/1), Koshari (25/1)

MONALEE blotted his copybook when falling in a 3m Grade 1 contest here over Christmas and he is taken to get back on track in this competitive 2m5f contest. Henry De Bromhead's charge showed useful form over hurdles last season and with the ground to suit he can get the better of Sutton Place who represents a leading yard and made the perfect start to his chasing career when winning last month. Invitation Only is already a Graded chase winner and he can claim third ahead of experienced stablemate Rathvinden.