19:05 Punchestown

Wednesday 27 April 2022

All15:4016:1516:4517:2017:5518:3019:0519:45

OMC Claims Handicap Chase (Grade A)

Off time: 19:05 | Winning time: 5m 40.4s

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Selected odds by:

Royal Rendezvous^h¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 160

12/1

High-class chaser who followed up last year's Galway Plate victory with success in a Gowran Grade 2 in October. No match for Fakir D'oudairies next start and probably best not judged too harshly on his effort in the Topham at Aintree.

Form: 0-1112P

Annamix^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 152

10/1

Losing run stretches back to November 2020 but he does at least arrive having dispelled a trio of lesser efforts when third in the Topham at Aintree 3 weeks ago. His task now is to back that up here.

Form: 32F5P3

Ciel De Neige^p³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: M P Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149| BF| C

15/8

Creditable nose second of 5 to French Dynamite in Gr 3 chase at Thurles (18f, good to soft, 4/11) 39 days ago, collared on the line. Remains low-mileage over fences and he may yet have more to offer. Player.

Form: 121112

Discordantly^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 142| D

14/1

Jumped much better with cheekpieces fitted when resuming winning ways in 21f Leopardstown handicap. Pulled up in Ultima Handicap at Cheltenham next time and brought down in the Topham at Aintree since. Needs to keep the errors at bay.

Form: 6F61PB

Aramax^p,t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: L P Dempsey| T: G Elliott| OR: 139

33/1

Former Fred Winter winner and a course winner but ran poorly in Munster National at Limerick in October. Unseated in Irish National 9 days ago but this drop in trip won't inconvenience him in any case.

Form: 40-3P0U

Rebel Gold^t⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: P T Foley| OR: 139| BF| C

18/1

Respectable third of 10 in handicap chase at Gowran (18f, heavy, 3/1) 46 days ago, headed when mistake last. Still, he rates a live each-way player once more.

Form: P-7F263

Cavalry Master^p1,t1¹²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 138| C

14/1

Three wins from 5 runs last season. 28/1, below form eighth of 28 in handicap chase at Leopardstown (24.2f, soft) in December, ridden before 2f out and weakening. Returns with yard going along nicely and good showing anticipated with cheekpieces/tongue tie added.

Form: 1-11198

Foxy Jacks^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: M F Morris| OR: 138| C

13/2

Landed this race 12 months ago and easily best effort since when runner-up at Leopardstown (21.3f) in February. However, jumping has let him down in similarly competitive events since which is a cause for concern here.

Form: 87P20F

The West's Awake^b,t²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-4| J: P T Enright| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 138| C

50/1

Course winner. 8/1, 14¼ lengths sixth of 8 to R'evelyn Pleasure in handicap chase at Wexford (20f, good to soft) 26 days ago. That should have put him spot on ahead of this and usual blinkers go back on. Each-way claims.

Form: 7023P6

Egality Mans³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: S F O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135| BF

6/1

Useful chaser who readily justified cramped odds to open chase account in a Wexford maiden (25.5f) in March. Noted finishing with running left when third in a Limerick Grade 3 since and this low-mileage 8-y-o is worth a look now handicapping in this sphere.

Form: 1F-F413

Snugsborough Hall^h¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-0| J: R Deegan| T: L P Cusack| OR: 134| C

16/1

Course winner. 33/1, below form fifteenth of 29 in Topham handicap chase at Aintree (21.1f, good) 19 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 945030

Fancy Foundations³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: J C Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 133| D

17/2

Two wins from 6 runs last season. 14/1, better than bare result when 22¼ lengths fourth of 6 to Lifetime Ambition in Gr 3 chase at Limerick (24.6f, good to soft) 31 days ago, absence/error taking their toll late on. Likely has a bigger effort in his locker now handicapping.

Form: 11F254

R'evelyn Pleasure^p⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: S O'Callaghan⁽⁷⁾| T: S O O'Brien| OR: 123| C

66/1

Latest win in chase at Wexford (20f) in April. 9/2, creditable second of 6 in handicap chase at Cork (16.7f, heavy) 9 days ago, no match for winner. Clearly in good heart at present but this understandably more demanding.

Form: 455612

Forecasts

Ciel De Neige (15/8), Egality Mans (6/1), Foxy Jacks (13/2), Fancy Foundations (17/2), Annamix (10/1), Royal Rendezvous (12/1), Discordantly (14/1), Cavalry Master (14/1), Snugsborough Hall (16/1), Rebel Gold (18/1), Aramax (33/1), The West's Awake (50/1), R'evelyn Pleasure (66/1)

Several arrive with sound claims and it may pay to side with Gordon Elliott's FANCY FOUNDATIONS. Following a break, he shaped better than the distance beaten suggests when fourth in a Limerick Grade 3 in March and the drop back in trip/switch to handicaps are both positives. Ciel de Neige is building up an excellent record over larger obstacles and is a big danger, along with the returning Cavalry Master.