17:00 Fairyhouse

Monday 21 April 2025

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2017:0017:4018:10

BoyleSports Irish Grand National Chase (Extended Handicap Chase) (Grade 3)

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 8m 11.8s

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Selected odds by:

Better Days Ahead^t⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr R James⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 154| C

16/1

Last season's Martin Pipe winner who made it 2 wins from his first 3 chase starts when just holding on in Grade 2 Ten Up Novices' Chase at Navan (23.8f). Good third in Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Broadway) (13/2) at Cheltenham (24.5f, good to soft) 40 days ago so he's much respected.

Form: 13-1213

Quai De Bourbon¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148

11/2

Won all 3 starts as a novice hurdler either side of an excellent third in last season's Martin Pipe. Took well to chasing initially, landing the odds in maiden company at Gowran in January, but fell at Cheltenham after and brought down at Aintree since. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 31-31UB

Johnnywho^t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 146| BF

9/1

Bettered hurdling form when taking novice at Carlisle on debut over fences and got firmly back on the up when an excellent neck second of 23 to Daily Present in handicap chase at Cheltenham (26f, good to soft, 9/2) 39 days ago. Weighted to go well.

Form: 4-13332

Bioluminescence⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 145

9/1

Has made a promising start chasing. landing Grade 2 at Limerick (22.6f, soft) on debut over fences in December and a very good second of 5 to Spindleberry in listed chase here (21.8f, soft) 58 days ago. Significantly up in trip and not taken lightly.

Form: 11P-122

Harry Des Ongrais²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 145| C

18/1

A very useful hurdler who got off the mark on just his second chasing start in novice chase at Gowran (20f) in Feburary. Good second of 5 to Fun Fun Fun in Grade 3 chase at Limerick (24.7f, soft) 29 days ago so merits consideration with more to offer now his stamina is drawn out more.

Form: 357/512

Duffle Coat^p¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: A Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 144

50/1

Won the Mayo National last spring and also finished second in the Galway Plate. In the process of running his best race since when brought down 2 out in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last month. Unseated 3rd in Grand National last time but can't be dismissed.

Form: 52P4BU

Favori De Champdou^b1³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 143

40/1

Made the most of a good opportunity in 3-runner Down Royal chase last month but took a tired fall late in the day on his only other go in a marathon handicap in this event last year. Blinkers replace usual cheekpieces.

Form: F1-8331

Search For Glory^p,t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 143| C

28/1

Made a successful chase debut at Galway in October. Unlucky not to follow up in Grade 2 at Punchestown next time and not discredited when seventh of 24 in handicap chase at Cheltenham (25f, good to soft) 41 days ago. Shortlisted.

Form: 7-12307

Sequestered⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: J G Gilligan⁽⁵⁾| T: P J Gilligan| OR: 143

50/1

Dual hurdles scorer who made a winning handicap debut in this sphere at Leopardstown over Christmas. Improved further when runner-up in Grade 3 handicap there after but only 10th in handicap chase (16/1) at Cheltenham (25f, good to soft) 41 days ago. Sort to bounce back.

Form: 844120

Desertmore House^t⁷⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: M Brassil| OR: 142

80/1

Useful chaser. Visored for 1st time when a below-form sixteenth of 25 in handicap hurdle (66/1) at Leopardstown (24.1f, good to soft) 79 days ago. Switches to chasing with more required.

Form: 3-P4300

Malina Girl⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Flanagan| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 142| C| D

33/1

Very useful chaser who has got back to her best of late, third of 24 in handicap chase at Cheltenham (25f, good to soft) 41 days ago. Well in the mix with this longer trip a plus.

Form: 254-323

Panda Boy⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Ricky Doyle| T: M Brassil| OR: 142

28/1

Useful chaser who came in a good third of 14 to Bushmans Pass in handicap chase at Naas (24.8f, soft) 43 days ago. Thirteen runs since last win in 2022 though.

Form: 240-703

Yeah Man^b1³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Kieren Buckley| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 142

50/1

Won the 2024 Grand National Trial at Haydock and took his form to a new level when third in the Troytown at Navan on his return. Has failed to build on it since however, ninth in handicap chase at Cheltenham (26f, good to soft) 39 days ago. Blinkers go on for the 1st time now.

Form: 19-34U9

Haiti Couleurs⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 141

13/2

Improving chaser who went 3-4 in this sphere in 18-runner National Hunt Handicap at Cheltenham (29.9f, good to soft) 41 days ago. Looked suited by increase in trip there so big shout with more to offer.

Form: 1-21131

Now Is The Hour⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Conor Stone-Walsh⁽³⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 141| C

10/1

Yet to win over fences though he's shaping up really well and would have finished an excellent second to Haiti Couleurs but for falling 2 out in National Hunt Handicap at Cheltenham (29.9f, good to soft) 41 days ago. A player.

Form: 12-654F

Shecouldbeanything^t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: J C Gainford| T: G Elliott| OR: 141

33/1

Taken well to fences this season, completing 4-timer in listed event at Bangor in November. Not disgraced upped in class all 3 starts since, third to Dinoblue in Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase at Cheltenham (20.6f, good to soft) 38 days ago. No forlorn hope.

Form: 111533

Sa Majeste³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: S D Torrens| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| C

16/1

Useful chaser and scored at Tipperary and Fairyhouse this season. Good third of 23 to Daily Present in handicap chase at Cheltenham (26f, good to soft, 8/1) 39 days ago so must enter calculations.

Form: 6-21513

Any Second Now^b⁴³

Age: 13| Weight: 10-11| J: Mark Walsh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 139| C

17/2

Smart chaser who arrives on the back of a respectable fifth of 14 to Bushmans Pass in handicap chase at Naas (24.8f, soft) 43 days ago. This course winner can make his presence felt off a handy-looking mark.

Form: 8672-45

Lord Lariat^p,t⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: P J O'Hanlon| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 138| CD

66/1

A C&D winner but he was pulled up in handicap hurdle here (20f, soft) 58 days ago. Reverts to chasing with work to do.

Form: 1467/4P

Stuzzikini^b⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: G Brouder⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 138

66/1

Career best when winning the valuable Troytown at Navan (3m) in November. Not in anything like the same form in the Thyestes at Gowran and handicap at Cheltenham (30f) since though so others appeal more.

Form: 15310P

Daily Present^b,t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: A P Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 137| C

25/1

Lightly raced for his age but confirmed earlier promise this term when landing 23-runner Kim Muir Handicap at Cheltenham (26f, good to soft) 39 days ago by neck from Johnnywho. Isn't yet fully exposed as a stayer and can go well.

Form: 15P-331

Mint Boy³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: K C Sexton| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 137| C

33/1

Useful dual-winning hurdler at up to 3m in Ireland and ran his best race yet over fences when third at Punchestown (22.7f) in February. Making headway when unseated rider 15th in Kim Muir Handicap at Cheltenham (26f, good to soft) last time and remains open to progress. Lively outsider.

Form: 7-3703U

Dunboyne²²^{(ex 8)}

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Donagh Meyler| T: Ian Donoghue| OR: 127| D

22/1

Unreliable type for Gordon Elliott but he went 2-2 for his new yard in 15-runner handicap chase at Downpatrick (28.6f, good to soft) 22 days ago by ½ length from Final Orders. Considered off the same mark.

Form: PPP-P11

Final Orders²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Patrick M O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 135

40/1

Without a win this season but he got right back to his best when ½-length second of 15 to Dunboyne in handicap chase at Downpatrick (28.6f, good to soft) 22 days ago. Firmly in the picture off an unchanged mark.

Form: 700632

Kinturk Kalanisi⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T Gibney| OR: 135

7/1

Smart chaser who was running very well (close up travelling strongly) when unseated rider 2 out in handicap chase at Naas (24.8f, soft) 43 days ago. Holds good claims off the same mark.

Form: 33-322U

Bushmans Pass^p⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan| OR: 133| C

33/1

Useful chaser who was fitted with cheekpieces for the 1st time when bagging 14-runner handicap chase at Naas (24.8f, soft) 43 days ago. This course winner can't be discounted.

Form: 131-5P1

Moonovercloon¹⁸⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: B W Harvey| T: M J Smith| OR: 133

100/1

Useful chaser. 11/1, respectable fifth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (20f) 6 months ago. Needs to hit the ground running back over fences.

Form: 3F27U5

Noble Birth^t¹⁰⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: D King| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 132| C

28/1

Got off the mark in this sphere in 9-runner novice chase here (21.9f, soft) 100 days ago. Scored comfortably there so possibilities upped markedly in trip.

Form: 0-27331

Another Choice¹⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: M J Smith| OR: 132

50/1

Useful chaser. 18/1, good second of 13 in handicap chase at this course (29.7f, good) 141 days ago. Can't be totally dismissed. RESERVE

Form: 744292

Will Do^b⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: H E Sexton⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 131

14/1

Useful chaser. 12/1, creditable 5½ lengths third of 18 to Haiti Couleurs in handicap chase at Cheltenham (29.9f, good to soft) 41 days ago. Eleven runs since his last win in 2023 though. RESERVE

Form: 325623

Non-Runners

Tullybeg²⁴⁰

Weight: 10-10| Age: 10

T: G Elliott J: Non Runner

Hasthing⁹

Weight: 10-4| Age: 8

T: J & A O'Neill J: Non Runner

Canal End³⁰

Weight: 10-1| Age: 7

T: Peter Fahey J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Quai De Bourbon (11/2), Haiti Couleurs (13/2), Kinturk Kalanisi (7/1), Any Second Now (17/2), Johnnywho (9/1), Bioluminescence (9/1), Now Is The Hour (10/1), Canal End (12/1), Will Do (14/1), Better Days Ahead (16/1), Sa Majeste (16/1), Harry Des Ongrais (18/1), Dunboyne (22/1), Hasthing (25/1), Daily Present (25/1), Noble Birth (28/1), Search For Glory (28/1), Panda Boy (28/1), Shecouldbeanything (33/1), Bushmans Pass (33/1), Malina Girl (33/1), Mint Boy (33/1), Favori De Champdou (40/1), Final Orders (40/1), Another Choice (50/1), Duffle Coat (50/1), Sequestered (50/1), Yeah Man (50/1), Stuzzikini (66/1), Lord Lariat (66/1), Desertmore House (80/1), Moonovercloon (100/1), Tullybeg (100/1)

This is wide open but stamina could prove key under the likely testing conditions so Rebecca Curtis' upwardly-mobile HAITI COULEURS is taken to follow up his victory in Cheltenham's National Hunt Handicap at the chief expense of Now Is The Hour, who would have finished an excellent second there but for falling two out. Final Orders is weighted to go well and also enters calculations along with Kinturk Kalanisi, Jonhnnywho, Bioluminescence, Harry des Ongrais and Any Second Now.