18:35 Punchestown

Friday 28 April 2023

All15:4016:1516:5017:2518:0018:3519:1019:45

Irish Daily Star Champion Hunters Chase

Off time: 18:36 | Winning time: 6m 27.9s

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Selected odds by:

Annamix^t²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr C Mullins⁽⁷⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148

9/1

Useful chaser. 18/1, improved to win 5-runner hunter chase at Fairyhouse (25.2f, good to soft) 20 days ago by 4½ lengths from Billaway. Merits respect for stable in rude health.

Form: 0544F1

Billaway^b,t²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 141| CD

7/2

Useful chaser. Respectable 4½ lengths second of 5 to Annamix in hunter chase (3/1) at Fairyhouse (25.2f, good to soft) 20 days ago. Blinkers back on, tongue strap back on. Should be closer to his stablemate this time.

Form: 11-21F2

Chris's Dream⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J L Gleeson⁽⁷⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 155| D

9/2

Fairly useful chaser. Six wins from 22 NH runs. Creditable fifth of 23 in Festival Challenge Cup at Cheltenham (26.3f, good to soft, 7/1) 42 days ago, going with enthusiasm. One to consider.

Form: U/U0-115

Dinny Lacey^p¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr H C Swan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Motherway| OR: 135| C

14/1

Fairly useful chaser. 4/1, won 8-runner hunter chase at Cork (20f, soft) 18 days ago. Merits respect for all that he has some improvement to find.

Form: U-74F21

Down The Highway^b¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr M J Love⁽⁷⁾| T: Ciaran Murphy| OR: 118| CD

150/1

Fairly useful chaser. Good 9¾ lengths third of 8 to Dinny Lacey in hunter chase at Cork (20f, soft, 25/1) 18 days ago. Something to find.

Form: 661433

Drumcliff^t¹⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss A B O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: P Roche| OR: 114| D

25/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Successful on sole start in points earlier this month and looks an interesting one back under Rules, particularly if the market speaks in his favour.

Form: 67/4571

Its On The Line^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: E Mullins| OR: 136| D

6/1

Useful chaser. Fell in hunter chase (8/1) at Aintree (21.1f, good) 15 days ago. Ran with credit at the Cheltenham Festival on previous outing and shouldn't be ruled out.

Form: 23112F

Lough Derg Spirit^p,t¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J W Hendrick⁽⁷⁾| T: D P Murphy| OR: 131| D

11/1

Useful hurdler. Creditable third of 27 in hunter chase (40/1) at Aintree (21.1f, good) 15 days ago. Should give another good account.

Form: 522123

Vaucelet⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: D M Christie| OR: 140| BF| D

2/1

Useful chaser. 2 wins from 4 runs this season. Bit below form seventh of 23 in Festival Challenge Cup at Cheltenham (26.3f, good to soft, 9/4) 42 days ago. Type to bounce back quickly and should take the beating.

Form: 12-1117

Visioman¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr T Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: Benjamin Halsall| OR: 140| CD

125/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 28/1, first run since leaving Henry De Bromhead when 10¾ lengths fourth of 8 to Dinny Lacey in hunter chase at Cork (20f, soft) 18 days ago. Uphill task.

Form: 114224

Dancing After Dark¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr M J O'Connor| T: J G Bennett| BF| D

200/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. Tenth of 14 in hunter chase at Cork (24f, soft, 7/2) on debut over fences 18 days ago. Out of her depth.

Form: 062010

Non-Runners

Snugsborough Hall¹²

Weight: 12-0| Age: 12

T: L P Cusack J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Vaucelet (2/1), Billaway (7/2), Chris's Dream (9/2), Its On The Line (6/1), Annamix (9/1), Lough Derg Spirit (11/1), Dinny Lacey (14/1), Snugsborough Hall (16/1), Drumcliff (25/1), Visioman (125/1), Down The Highway (150/1), Dancing After Dark (200/1)

VAUCELET was slightly disappointing at Cheltenham but he's a reliable character who should bounce back quickly. Chris's Dream was ahead of the selection that day and deserves respect, while Billaway is a player if he has one of his better days in terms of jumping.