15:20 Leopardstown

Sunday 4 February 2024

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4515:2015:5016:25

O'Driscolls Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 5m 30.3s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Fakir D'Oudairies⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: M P Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 161| D

11/1

High-class Irish chaser who was a respectable second in Melling Chase (had won previous two renewals) at Aintree on final start last season. Made a respectable comeback at Cheltenham and should come on for that.

Form: 5/2132-5

Classic Getaway³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 156| BF

8/1

High-class chaser. Career best when winning 6-runner listed chase at Thurles (22f, good to soft, 15/2) on return. Unable to land odds in Grade 3 at Tramore on New Year's Day but ground might have been too testing. Well worth another chance off what looks an attractive opening mark.

Form: PD/14-12

Vanillier^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: S W Flanagan| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 152

50/1

Smart chaser (second in Grand National in April). However, down the field both starts this season and others more persuasive.

Form: 6F22-55

James Du Berlais^t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149| D

4/1

Better for return when good 10 lengths fourth of 27 to Meetingofthewaters in handicap chase (12/1) at this course (24.4f, heavy) 39 days ago. Likely to continue in form.

Form: 6643-44

Adamantly Chosen³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148

18/1

Below form 32½ lengths tenth of 27 to Meetingofthewaters in handicap chase (11/1) at this course (24.4f, heavy) 39 days ago. Seemingly passed over by Townend.

Form: 276P-40

Embittered^t³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: C P Millar⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 147

50/1

Latest win in chase at Navan in December. Pulled up in handicap chase at this course (24.4f, heavy, 66/1) 39 days ago won by Meetingofthewaters.

Form: 6P-071P

Busselton^b³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 146

22/1

33/1, good 12½ lengths sixth of 27 to Meetingofthewaters in handicap chase at this course (24.4f, heavy) 39 days ago. More required again.

Form: 54P-546

Indiana Jones^p,t⁸⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: G Brouder⁽⁵⁾| T: M F Morris| OR: 145

33/1

Seems to have put his jumping issues behind him and picked up a couple of novice chase wins last season, notably a Grade 3 at Navan (2m) in March. Better for return when fourth in Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter in November, albeit never threatened.

Form: 1143-64

Lucid Dreams²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: L Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 145| D

22/1

Decent strike rate and good second of 11 in handicap chase at Fairyhouse (17.3f, soft) 22 days ago. Back up in trip. Can give another good account.

Form: 412152

Meetingofthewaters^h1³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: B Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| C| D

14/1

Smart chaser who posted a career best when winning 27-runner handicap chase here (24.4f, heavy, 6/1) 39 days ago, forging clear. Hood on 1st time. Should continue to give a good account.

Form: 76-4311

El Barra⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: C G O'Dwyer⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 144| D

100/1

Pretty useful hurdler/chaser for Willie Mullins but he's hard to warm to on the back of 2 dismal efforts for new yard.

Form: U16F-PP

Inothewayurthinkin³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: S D Torrens| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 144

11/2

Useful hurdler and better form over fences this season, 7 lengths third of 5 to Gaelic Warrior in Faugheen Novices' Chase at Limerick (19.4f, heavy) 38 days ago, not knocked about. Makes handicap chase debut and should do better.

Form: 434-223

Hollow Games^b,t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 143| C

14/1

Good third in Galway Plate on return but below par on heavy ground next 2 starts. Could bounce back.

Form: 4P4-3P9

Watch House Cross^t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: D J O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 139| C

25/1

2 wins from 6 runs this season. Below form well-beaten eleventh of 27 to Meetingofthewaters in handicap chase at this course (24.4f, heavy, 14/1) 39 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 113360

Riaan⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: D J Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 137

50/1

1 win from 3 runs this season. Latest win in chase at Wexford in August. Creditable 1¾ lengths fourth of 11 to Percy Warner in handicap chase at Cork (21f, soft, 7/1) 70 days ago.

Form: 01P-144

Heart Wood⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 136

6/1

French recruit who's been runner-up in maiden chases all 3 starts for this yard. Remains with potential now handicapping.

Form: 261/2-22

Cool Survivor⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 135| D

22/1

Useful winner at 24f over hurdles. Went close in Limerick maiden chase on return but hasn't kicked on since. Makes handicap chase debut.

Form: 40F-244

Drumbear^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: S O'Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 135| D

66/1

Useful winner in novice chase at Limerick last season but below par 3 starts since.

Form: 1/21U-78

Fire Attack⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: J Coen⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 133| D

80/1

Below par this season, eighth of 10 in handicap chase (22/1) at this course (17f, good to soft) 40 days ago. Back up in trip. Has work to do.

Form: 5U8-098

Good Time Jonny^t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: P T Enright| T: A J Martin| OR: 133| C

18/1

In top form in valuable handicap hurdles at the big festivals during the spring, winning Pertemps Final at Cheltenham in March. However, he again failed to shine back over fences at Fairyhouse on his reappearance and no better at Naas since.

Form: 3014-90

Percy Warner^p⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: M P O'Connor⁽³⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 133| D

40/1

15/2, career best when winning 11-runner handicap chase at Cork (21f, soft) 70 days ago, keeping on well. Possibly more to come given he's still lightly raced.

Form: 5426-31

Chavez²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: K Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 132

22/1

Respectable fifth of 11 in handicap chase (5/1) at Fairyhouse (17.3f, soft) 22 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 61/U1-55

Perceval Legallois⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: C Stone-Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 132| C

16/1

Useful winner at 24f over hurdles. Well-beaten last of 5 to I Am Maximus in Drinmore Novices' Chase (28/1) at Fairyhouse (20f, soft) 63 days ago. Makes handicap chase debut. Jumping will be tested in this big field.

Form: 241-1F5

Birchdale^p⁷⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: M M McDonagh⁽³⁾| T: E Bolger| OR: 130| CD

28/1

C&D winner. Didn't need to be at best when winning 8-runner minor event chase at Punchestown (24f, soft, 5/2) 70 days ago. Cheekpieces back on. More needed here.

Form: 5-F2631

Top Ville Ben^h⁴⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: R T Dunne| T: P A Kirby| OR: 129

50/1

Ran a cracker when third in this last season but struggled in competitive handicaps at the big festivals during the spring. Step back in the right direction when second of 4 in handicap chase at Aintree (19.9f, heavy) 40 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 3P0-FP2

Forecasts

James Du Berlais (4/1), Inothewayurthinkin (11/2), Heart Wood (6/1), Classic Getaway (8/1), Fakir D'Oudairies (11/1), Meetingofthewaters (14/1), Hollow Games (14/1), Perceval Legallois (16/1), Good Time Jonny (18/1), Adamantly Chosen (18/1), Cool Survivor (22/1), Lucid Dreams (22/1), Busselton (22/1), Chavez (22/1), Watch House Cross (25/1), Birchdale (28/1), Indiana Jones (33/1), Percy Warner (40/1), Riaan (50/1), Top Ville Ben (50/1), Embittered (50/1), Vanillier (50/1), Drumbear (66/1), Fire Attack (80/1), El Barra (100/1)

CLASSIC GETAWAY was unable to land the odds in a Grade 3 at Tramore on New Year's Day but he went like the best horse at the weights before seemingly stretched by conditions so is well worth another chance off what looks a fair opening mark. This is typically competitive, though, with Meetingofthewaters and Heart Wood heading the dangers.