16:20 Listowel

Wednesday 12 September 2018

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2016:5517:3018:00

Guinness Kerry National Handicap Chase (Grade A)

Off time: 16:22 | Winning time: 5m 56.7s

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Selected odds by:

Jury Duty^t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: R M Power| T: G Elliott| OR: 152

8/1

Smart novice chaser last term winning a Grade 2 and finishing second in a Grade 1. Hit the frame in last month's Galway Plate (third) and likely has key role here for bang in-form Elliott team (16-57).

Form:

Snow Falcon⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade| OR: 148| C| D

6/1

Unseated in Irish National and pulled up in Grade 1 at Aintree on last two starts last season, jumping issues took away chance in Galway Plate before staying on into fourth. Could be dangerous if getting into a rhythm.

Form:

Haymount^t³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144

20/1

Was having first run for 364 days when pulled up in last month's Galway Plate before coming out again at Ballybrit four days later and finishing sound third behind Sub Lieutenant in a 2m6½f good-ground handicap chase.

Form:

A Rated⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: D Robinson⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 143| D

12/1

Made fine start for this yard at Punchestown and possible he wasn't right when disappointing favourite here in June. Since run a cracker at Galway (second) having forced running. First time attempting 3m and possible we haven't seen his best yet.

Form:

Saturnas³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 142

20/1

Won a beginners' chase at Fairyhouse (2m1f, soft to heavy) in January, then came up short in Grade 1 spring novice events twice. Made fair share of jumping errors in two runs at Galway last month and ultimately they cost in competitive races.

Form:

Shantou Village^p1¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 141| D

16/1

Top-class novice in 2016-17, took advantage of dropping mark to score last month at Worcester (2m7f, good to soft) and British raider comes here as an interesting commodity on the back of that win. Cheekpieces added.

Form:

Slowmotion^p⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 141

12/1

Useful mare on her day with a couple of wins and plenty solid efforts in 12 starts over fences. Well held in this race (eighth) last year on heavy going off a mark of 145. Likely will prefer the slightly sounder surface that is forecast now.

Form:

Townshend^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140

33/1

Three-time winner over fences in early 2017 for the champion trainer, all over 2m, hasn't got his head in front in eight 2018 starts (previous two on the Flat) but shaped well here over 2m3f (good) in June. Unexposed over this new trip.

Form:

Bishops Road^b,t1²⁰¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 139| D

16/1

Fancied for the Welsh National in January on the back of solid second to Beware The Bear in Newcastle's Listed Rehearsal Chase, pulled up at Chepstow and disappointing in February starts. Off since, that Newcastle run came fresh, one to note.

Form:

Blazer⁴¹

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

9/2

Career stalled by absences since arriving from France, though has shown good form in four starts over fences. Ran fine race in Galway Hurdle (2m, soft) last time, back over fences for Team Mullins and has shaped as though this 3m test will be fine.

Form:

Dell' Arca^b,t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 138| D

20/1

Versatile performer for leading English yard, has scored over hurdles and on the Flat this summer already. Fine third in 3m2f handicap chase at Cheltenham in April (good ground) marks him out as one that could cause a splash.

Form:

Vieux Morvan^b⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: S A Shortall⁽³⁾| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 138

14/1

Just three runs over fences since arriving from France. Promising start in Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown (fifth) over this sort of trip and again went well there in February (2m5f). Brought down last month at Galway before cards were played.

Form:

Call It Magic^b³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: A E Lynch| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 137| D

20/1

Couple of chase wins in minor events at Ballinrobe and Galway back in the autumn, both on testing ground. Well beaten in three starts so far in 2018 and plenty ground to make up with some of these on last month's Galway run.

Form:

Bay Of Freedom^b1⁹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: J J Burke| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 136| C

20/1

Listed winner over fences at Wexford in 2016, ran a stormer to be close third in this event last year, rated 3lb lower than now, but very poor in two chase starts either side of Christmas and over timber at Wexford in June in sole 2018 outing.

Form:

Oscar Knight³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: J S McGarvey| T: T Mullins| OR: 136

14/1

More miss than hit these days, failed to complete in last two Irish Nationals and generally short of best but good third at Punchestown (2m4f, yielding) in April was a reminder that ability still remains. Well held last month over timber at Galway.

Form:

Timiyan^t⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: D J O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 132| C

12/1

Best of his chase efforts since joining Gordon Elliott came when running down stablemate Rogue Angel to win the Midlands National at Kilbeggan (3m1f, good) in July by a neck. Raised 10lb for that, remains with scope for better over fences.

Form:

Rogue Angel^b,t⁵⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: G Elliott| OR: 132| BF| CD

7/2

Irish National hero in 2016 for Mouse Morris, appeared to have lost his way last term before excellent Punchestown second (3m½f, soft), built on that when just denied in Midlands National at Kilbeggan on first start for this trainer (Reserve).

Form:

All Hell Let Loose^t³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Lisa O Neill| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 132

28/1

One from 12 starts for the experienced chaser, jumping wasn't foot perfect over 2m4f here on Sunday but didn't run a bad race. Needs to pull out some more on the quick turnaround (Second Reserve).

Form:

Non-Runners

Peregrine Run¹²

Weight: 11-9| Age: 8

T: Peter Fahey J: R Loughran

Wounded Warrior³⁸

Weight: 10-7| Age: 9

T: N Meade J: Unknown Jockey

Thunder And Roses⁴⁰

Weight: 10-2| Age: 10

T: G Elliott J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Rogue Angel (7/2), Blazer (9/2), Snow Falcon (6/1), Jury Duty (8/1), A Rated (12/1), Timiyan (12/1), Slowmotion (12/1), Oscar Knight (14/1), Vieux Morvan (14/1), Shantou Village (16/1), Peregrine Run (16/1), Bishops Road (16/1), Saturnas (20/1), Dell' Arca (20/1), Call It Magic (20/1), Haymount (20/1), Bay Of Freedom (20/1), All Hell Let Loose (28/1), Townshend (33/1), Wounded Warrior (33/1), Thunder And Roses (33/1)

The powerhouse yards as well represented here. Gordon Elliott has Jury Duty, Timiyan and Rogue Angel – in that order – all likely to get involved, while Willie Mullins will be full of hope that Blazer can mount a big challenge despite fears over the trip on testing ground, while Townshend also has a stamina question over him. A Rated and Vieux Morvan are two that can improve but this is an interesting bit of placing from David Pipe with DELL' ARCA. He's been in excellent form on the level and over timber this summer and his Cheltenham run in April is the sort of form that could take him a long way in this race.