14:25 Leopardstown

Sunday 6 February 2022

All12:4513:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Bulmers Secret Orchard Leopardstown Handicap Chase (Grade A)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 5m 37.3s

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Selected odds by:

Minella Times^t⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 159

25/1

Tailed off when fell 3 out in John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase at Punchestown (20.4f, good to soft, 66/1) 63 days ago. Grand National hero needs to get back on track now.

Form: 0/1221-F

Blackbow^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 156| BF| C

7/1

7/2, good second of 12 in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (17f, soft) 28 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Can give another good account.

Form: 1F336-2

The Shunter^h,t¹⁹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: B Hayes| T: E Mullins| OR: 153| D

8/1

Latest win in chase at Cheltenham in March. 11/2, creditable fourth of 22 in handicap chase at Galway (22.5f, good). Off 6 months but still looks competitive on form.

Form: 31123-4

Annamix^t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: J B Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152

28/1

Last of 5 in minor event hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, soft, 10/3) 22 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase with work to do.

Form: P332F5

Samcro^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 152| C| D

22/1

Unreliable type. Last of 8 to Galvin in Savills Chase (50/1) at this course (24f, soft) 40 days ago, finding little. Others appeal more.

Form: P-16028

Spyglass Hill⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: H Morgan⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 146

33/1

Career best when winning 14-runner handicap chase at Limerick (19.7f, heavy, 12/1) 40 days ago by ½ length from Rebel Gold. Respected despite 6 lb rise.

Form: 23-85R1

Gallant John Joe^p,t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: B Browne| T: O McKiernan| OR: 142

11/1

66/1, fading fifth of 8 to Bob Olinger in Killiney Novices' Chase at Punchestown (20.2f, heavy) 21 days ago. Makes handicap chase debut. Enters calculations.

Form: 5233/45

Max Flamingo³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: Francis Casey| OR: 142| C

11/2

Creditable fourth of 8 to Fury Road in Neville Hotels (Fort Leney) Novices' Chase at this course (24f, good to soft, 28/1) 39 days ago. Makes handicap chase debut and no forlorn hope.

Form: 14-5324

Ten Ten^p⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: M P Walsh| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 142

16/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, pulled up in handicap chase (12/1) at Limerick (19.7f, heavy) 40 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: P22R2-P

Fan De Blues^h,t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: S F O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141| BF

14/1

2 wins from 6 runs this season. 9/2, respectable sixth of 14 in handicap chase at this course (17f, soft) 42 days ago, so he can't be ruled out.

Form: 5-11226

Rebel Gold^t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: C A Landers| T: P T Foley| OR: 140

12/1

Good ½-length second of 14 to Spyglass Hill in handicap chase at Limerick (19.7f, heavy, 12/1) 40 days ago. Improving all the time recently, so he needs considering.

Form: 1PP-7F2

Fakir D'alene^b¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 137| D

15/2

Gained third win of the season in 8-runner handicap chase at Thurles (21.6f) 14 days ago, battling well. Up 5 lb but he's expected to be bang there in his bid for a hat-trick.

Form: 173211

Definite Plan^p⁷⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| OR: 136

40/1

Latest win in chase at Cheltenham in October. 9/1, only eleventh of 16 in handicap chase at Navan (24f, good) 77 days ago, so he needs to get back on track.

Form: 022210

Foxy Jacks^p¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: J M Moore| T: M F Morris| OR: 136

33/1

Pulled up in handicap chase (25/1) at Gowran (25f, soft) 10 days ago. Others are preferred.

Form: 1-4987P

Mortal^p,t⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 133| D

18/1

Fourteen runs since last win in 2020 but good fourth of 15 in handicap chase at Cheltenham (30.2f, good, 20/1) 58 days ago, needing lesser test. Possibilities.

Form: 5P0594

Winter Escape^p,t⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: S D Torrens| T: A A Howard| OR: 132

33/1

25/1, respectable fifth of 14 in handicap chase at this course (17f, soft) 42 days ago. Back up in trip with something to find on form.

Form: 033335

Birchdale^p⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: M M McDonagh⁽⁷⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 129| D

9/2

33/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, creditable sixth of 28 in handicap chase at this course (24.2f, soft) 41 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Can make presence felt.

Form: 6-33706

Forecasts

Birchdale (9/2), Max Flamingo (11/2), Blackbow (7/1), Fakir D'alene (15/2), The Shunter (8/1), Gallant John Joe (11/1), Rebel Gold (12/1), Fan De Blues (14/1), Ten Ten (16/1), Mortal (18/1), Samcro (22/1), Minella Times (25/1), Annamix (28/1), Foxy Jacks (33/1), Winter Escape (33/1), Spyglass Hill (33/1), Definite Plan (40/1)

Plenty are in with a shout. FAKIR D'ALENE impressed with both his jumping and attitude when scoring on his handicap bow at Thurles so is fancied to complete his hat-trick at the chief expense of Rebel Gold who also arrives on the up. Gallant John Joe should strip fitter for his recent Punchestown fifth and is weighted to go well, while both Mortal and Birchdale figure on the shortlist too.