Ladbrokes Novice Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:47 | Winning time: 5m 23.06s

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Selected odds by:

Adamantly Chosen⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149

40/1

Smart chaser won Grade 3 event at Punchestown in October. Very good 4¼ lengths second of 5 to Gerri Colombe in Faugheen Novices' Chase at Limerick (19.7f, heavy, 11/1) 41 days ago. More required in this company.

Form: 4-01152

Gaillard Du Mesnil³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 156| C

7/2

Very smart chaser. 5/6, didn't need to improve to win 7-runner Neville Hotels (Fort Leney) Novices' Chase at this course (24f, soft) 38 days ago. As effective over this shorter trip but will need to turn the tables with Mighty Potter on their Drinmore meeting.

Form: 3333-21

I Am Maximus³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF

16/1

Useful chaser. 10/11 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, respectable second of 6 in novice chase at this course (21f, soft) 39 days ago. Remains a smart prospect but surely has an uphill task in this company.

Form: 3124-22

James Du Berlais³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D A Jacob| T: W P Mullins| D

7/2

Looked smart when winning 6-runner novice chase at Fairyhouse (21.1f, heavy, 1/4) on debut over fences 35 days ago, going with enthusiasm and jumping slickly. Should progress and he's a leading player.

Form: 21292/1

Kilcruit^t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| C

14/1

Made a winning chase debut at Punchestown in November and produced a smart effort when 6¼ lengths third of 5 to Gerri Colombe in Faugheen Novices' Chase at Limerick (19.7f, heavy) 41 days ago. Perhaps a notch below the very best in his top yard.

Form: 3134-13

Mighty Potter⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 160| C

1/1

Looked an outstanding prospect when readily winning 10-runner Drinmore Novices' Chase at Fairyhouse (19.8f, heavy) 63 days ago by 4½ lengths from Gaillard Du Mesnil. Sets a high standard with further progress anticipated.

Form: 31P1-11

Forecasts

Mighty Potter (1/1), Gaillard Du Mesnil (7/2), James Du Berlais (7/2), Kilcruit (14/1), I Am Maximus (16/1), Adamantly Chosen (40/1)

The five-strong Willie Mullins battalion may have their work cut out against MIGHTY POTTER, whose emphatic Drinmore success represented one of the best performances from a novice chaser so far this season. James du Berlais looked a natural on his chase debut and makes most appeal of the Mullins runners, with Gaillard du Mesnil, long established as a very smart sort, taken to fill the placings.