14:25 Punchestown

Thursday 20 February 2025

All13:2513:5514:2514:5515:2515:5516:2517:00

QuinnBet Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Listed)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 7m 32.4s

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Selected odds by:

Velvet Elvis^p²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: K M Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 146

7/1

22/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, very good second of 18 in handicap chase at Gowran (25f, soft) 28 days ago, going with enthusiasm. Big shout with headgear again fitted.

Form: P6/P1-02

Favori De Champdou^p²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr J H Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 144| C

17/2

Course winner. Six wins from 17 NH runs. Creditable third of 18 in handicap chase at Gowran (25f, soft, 16/1) 28 days ago. Player.

Form: 54F1-83

Macdermott²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140

16/1

Unseated rider start in handicap chase at Gowran (25f, soft, 28/1) 28 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: F11-P0U

Spanish Harlem^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136

7/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2022. 16/1, bit below form seventh of 18 in handicap chase at Gowran (25f, soft) 28 days ago.

Form: 336P-07

Ask Anything^h,t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: C Stone-Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 132

15/2

7/1, creditable fourth of 16 in handicap hurdle at this course (20.6f, heavy) 39 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Significantly back up in trip. Others more persuasive.

Form: 22-FP94

Macs Charm^p1²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: B Hayes| T: Colm Murphy| OR: 132

25/1

Bit below form eighth of 18 in handicap chase (22/1) at Gowran (25f, soft) 28 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: P55-098

Sphagnum^p,t⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: D P Maxwell⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Broderick| OR: 131

80/1

Latest win in chase at Cork in November. Pulled up in handicap chase (12/1) at Fairyhouse (29.7f, good) 81 days ago, labouring from early final circuit.

Form: 18281P

Where It All Began^b²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: K C Sexton| T: G Elliott| OR: 131| CD

18/1

Latest win in chase at Cork in November. Pulled up in handicap chase (12/1) at Fairyhouse (29.7f, good) 81 days ago. Took this 12 months ago though so could bounce back.

Form: 2148-P0

Cleatus Poolaw²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: D J Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 130

8/1

Useful winner at 19f over hurdles. 28/1, below form seventh of 14 in novice chase at Gowran (20f, soft) 28 days ago. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 294-F47

Bushmans Pass²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: P T Enright| T: O McKiernan| OR: 128

13/2

Respectable fifth of 18 in handicap chase (22/1) at Gowran (25f, soft) 28 days ago. Possibilities.

Form: 91131-5

Klarc Kent²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: S F O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 127

22/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2022. 40/1, ninth of 18 in handicap chase at Gowran (25f, soft) 28 days ago.

Form: 24P-0P9

Will Do^b²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 126

15/2

Yet to score over fences but arrives in good nick, not seen to best effect when sixth of 18 in handicap chase at Gowran (25f, soft) 28 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 4-33256

Stormy Judge⁵⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: H E Sexton⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 125

14/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2021. 16/1, unseated rider in handicap chase at Limerick (19.4f, soft) 54 days ago. Significantly back up in trip.

Form: 59-508U

Kings Halo³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: R Deegan| T: J Dullea| OR: 123

16/1

1 win from 3 runs this season. Improved to win 9-runner handicap chase at Cork (20f, soft, 14/1) 34 days ago, keeping on well. Significantly up in trip. Likely type.

Form: 210-901

St Denis's Well^p,t⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: D J O'Keeffe| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 122

12/1

Latest win in hurdle at Down Royal in December. Running well (disputing the lead) when unseated rider 3 out in handicap chase at Leopardstown (24.4f, good to soft, 9/1) 53 days ago. Shortlisted.

Form: 40221U

Fortunedefortunata¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: J Coen⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 119

14/1

Bit below form eleventh of 25 in handicap hurdle (40/1) at Leopardstown (24.1f, good to soft) 19 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Makes handicap chase debut. Plenty to find on form.

Form: 695020

Beau Walking^p,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: P M O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 110

20/1

125/1, eleventh of 14 in novice chase at Gowran (20f, soft) 28 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Tongue strap back on. Makes handicap chase debut. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 3-485B0

Forecasts

Bushmans Pass (13/2), Spanish Harlem (7/1), Velvet Elvis (7/1), Will Do (15/2), Ask Anything (15/2), Cleatus Poolaw (8/1), Favori De Champdou (17/2), St Denis's Well (12/1), Fortunedefortunata (14/1), Stormy Judge (14/1), Kings Halo (16/1), Macdermott (16/1), Where It All Began (18/1), Beau Walking (20/1), Klarc Kent (22/1), Macs Charm (25/1), Sphagnum (80/1)

VELVET ELVIS was reinvigorated by the return to chasing and the addition of cheekpieces when running the race of his life to finish second in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran last month and can go one better with the headgear again sported. Cork scorer Kings Halo is next on the list, with course winner Favori de Champdou and in-form Will Do also in the mix. St Denis's Well completes the shortlist.