16:15 Punchestown

Friday 3 May 2024

All15:4016:1516:5017:2518:0018:3519:0519:40

EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase (Listed)

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 5m 21.1s

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Selected odds by:

Mister Policeman⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 149| C

4/1

Smart hurdler who's won 3 of his 4 starts over fences this season, including when landing the odds in Grade 3 at Thurles 7 weeks ago. Makes handicap debut. Open to further improvement as a chaser.

Form: 1/1-1311

Tactical Move³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145| C| D

5/1

Low mileage 10-y-o who hasn't done much wrong since switched to fences, chasing home stablemate Nick Rockett on chase debut before hitting the target at Gowran and Naas. Excellent second behind Tuesday's Grade 1 winner Spillane's Tower at Fairyhouse since so high on shortlist switched to a handicap.

Form: 1/1-2112

Mars Harper^p,t⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: D J Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 139

33/1

Back-to-back winner at around 2m6f over fences last summer and ran well from inflated mark when second at Punchestown (21.3f) in November. Not in same for next 2 starts, however, including on the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival.

Form: 110250

Toss Again^t¹⁸⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: D J O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 139

25/1

Fairly useful hurdler who has quickly made into an even better chaser, winning maiden at Limerick in May and competitive handicap at Galway in August. However, no match for sole rival in novice at Killarney before tailed off in similar event at Cheltenham in October. Off since.

Form: 17-1124

Perceval Legallois⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: M P Walsh| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 137

4/1

Useful 3m winner over hurdles. Made a successful debut over fences at Galway in October and running a cracker when fell last in 2m5f handicap chase at Leopardstown 89 days ago, looking set to go close. Must enter calculations.

Form: 41-1F5F

Joyeux Machin^b1,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: S W Flanagan| T: P Nolan| OR: 136| D

50/1

Useful chaser but has failed to complete last 2 starts, falling at the first in Grade 3 at Limerick 2 weeks ago. Change of headgear. Opening mark in this sphere looks on the high side.

Form: 4122PF

Sir Psycho^p⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Slevin| T: Harry Derham| OR: 136

15/2

Made his first start since leaving Paul Nicholls a winning one in novice handicap at Ascot (18.8f) on his return in November. Best effort since when good second of 6 in handicap chase at Newbury (19.8f, good to soft, 8/1) 41 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 7-12U42

Flanking Maneuver³³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: J W Kennedy| T: N Meade| OR: 134| D

16/1

Opened chase account at Fairyhouse 21.5f in October. Mightn't have had much luck on his last 2 starts but the suspicion is he's struggling for form at present. Opening mark a fair one at least.

Form: 3-143F6

Captains Nephew^t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: J P O'Sullivan| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 132

33/1

10/1, career best when winning 9-runner handicap chase at Fairyhouse (16.7f, heavy) 33 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Up in trip. This is tougher.

Form: 813271

Dreal Deal^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: S D Torrens| T: J C McConnell| OR: 132| C| D

25/1

7/1, improved to win 11-runner novice chase at Down Royal (20f, good to soft) 19 days ago by 5½ lengths from Duffle Coat, driven out. More needed again if he's to follow up on handicap chase debut.

Form: 8/3-3561

Hgranca De Thaix⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: M J M O'Sullivan| T: B Connell| OR: 131| D

16/1

Got off the mark over fences with a career-best win in 5-runner handicap (7/2) at Limerick (19.6f, heavy) and is open to further progress granted even more of a test.

Form: 13-3531

Arctic Bresil^t⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 130

9/1

Winning hurdler who has run to a similar level in trio of chase starts this winter. Caught out by the standing start when mid-field in the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival last time and Rachael Blackmore takes the ride as one of 3 runners from this yard.

Form: P4-4420

Feu Du Bresil⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: B Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 130

25/1

Yet to build on his promising chase debut at Fairyhouse in November but at least matched that form when second of 5 in handicap chase at Perth (20.1f, soft) 8 days ago. This tougher.

Form: 3-256P2

Battle It Out^h⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: C G O'Dwyer⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Dwyer| OR: 127| D

10/1

Career best when winning 10-runner handicap chase at Naas (20f, heavy). Not in same form stepped up to 3m at Navan since but return to this distance is a positive.

Form: 9F3414

Spirit Of Legend^t1⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: D Meyler| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 127| D

20/1

Useful winner at 20f over hurdles. Well held first 2 starts over fences before fell in handicap chase at Naas (20f, soft) 96 days ago, too far out to suggest outcome. Tongue strap on 1st time. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: B60-44F

Duffle Coat^p⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 126| BF| C

40/1

Fairly useful chaser who deserves credit for consistency for all a first chasing victory remains elusive, clear of the rest when close second in maiden at Downpatrick last week. Opening mark looks high enough.

Form: 0-02222

Hardwired^b,t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: S O'Callaghan⁽⁵⁾| T: T M Walsh| OR: 120| C

33/1

Added another win to his tally at Navan 6 weeks ago but will find this much more competitive.

Form: 171B11

Forecasts

Perceval Legallois (4/1), Mister Policeman (4/1), Tactical Move (5/1), Sir Psycho (15/2), Arctic Bresil (9/1), Battle It Out (10/1), Hgranca De Thaix (16/1), Flanking Maneuver (16/1), Spirit Of Legend (20/1), Dreal Deal (25/1), Toss Again (25/1), Feu Du Bresil (25/1), Mars Harper (33/1), Hardwired (33/1), Captains Nephew (33/1), Duffle Coat (40/1), Joyeux Machin (50/1)

PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS was set to go close when crashing out at the last in a Grade 3 handicap at Leopardstown in February so tops the shortlist down in class racing off 2 lb higher. Low-mileage 10-y-o Tactical Move was an excellent second to Spillane's Tower in a Grade 1 novice at Fairyhouse 5 weeks ago so is next best ahead of his unexposed stablemate Mister Policeman.