3.00 FLOGAS

NOVICE CHASE

(GRADE 1) 2M 5F

Al Boum Photo: Won at Grade 2 level as a hurdler while giving the impression he would come into his own over fences and he duly won nicely on his chasing debut at Navan. Looked sure to strike at Grade 2 level at Limerick over Christmas only to fall at the last but that shouldn’t detract from his appeal here.

Bon Papa: On occasion he has looked a very talented sort although his wins to date have come over 2m. He certainly looked as though he would appreciate moving back in distance when showing up well for a long way in a 3m Gr ade 1 here in December but a career best is needed from him now.

Dounikos: Capable sort over hurdles but was a long way removed from graded level. However, he is a vastly better chaser as evidenced by a beginners’ chase success over Monbeg Notorious and a Grade 2 victory at Limerick where he was left clear by Al Boum Photo’s last fence fall. Can do better still, especially over further, but he might come up short against a couple of these.

Invitation Only: Didn’t quite go as far over hurdles as had seemed likely but has been doing well over fences and there was plenty to like about his recent Grade 2 triumph over 2m 4f at Punchestown. He has room for further improvement which makes a strong showing entirely likely.

Koshari: Lightly raced but talented sort who returned from over a year off to register a wide margin success in a Thurles beginners’ chase in December. Progressed from that to chase home Invitation Only in a Grade 2 last time and he can do better still but he will need to as he steps up further in class.

Monalee: Ended last season as a top-notch staying hurdler and began his chasing career with a fine victory over Any Second Now in a 2m 4f beginners’ race at Punchestown in November. Took a heavy fall here over Christmas but with a clear round he must be considered a leading player even though a longer trip would probably suit better.

Rathvinden: Enjoyed an excellent time of things through the summer and autumn with four victories and showed up well to chase home Death Duty in the Drinmore on his penultimate start. He is a solid and reliable type but there look to be a few stronger candidates in the line up.

Snow Falcon: High-class staying hurdler who has run to a good standard on his three chase outings to date including when taking advantage of a straight forward opportunity in a beginners’ chase over this course and distance last time. His third in the Drinmore was a respectable effort but he must take a step forward if he is to figure.

Sutton Place: Progressed into a high-class hurdler last season with Grade 3 and Grade 2 wins and made an ideal start over fences at Fairyhouse last month with a comfortable defeat of the subsequent winner Kemboy. This test is altogether tougher and he will need to be at his peak but he has long appealed as a potentially top-drawer chaser.

The Storyteller: Likeable type who won nicely on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse two months ago and then ran a respectable 4½l third to Invitation Only at Punchestown last month where a mistake at the second last didn’t help. He will have to progress again but he has the capacity to do so and a decent showing is far from impossible.

Tombstone: Showed quality form as a hurdler and has reached a similar standard over fences having won a Grade 3 and been placed in a couple of Grade 2 contests. Anything from 2m to 2m 4f looks to suit him well and he is a solid type but at this level he should find a few too good.

Verdict

Another terrific top-level contest and a chance is taken on Monalee even though it is far from ideal that he comes here off a heavy fall. A high-class novice hurdler, he promises to be a top-drawer staying chaser and it is worth taking the chance that he can bounce back from his Christmas fall. Sutton Place will have to sharpen up from his successful chasing debut at Fairyhouse but he could easily do so and if he can reach the same level that he did over hurdles he will be right at home in this company. Invitation Only and Al Boum Photo give Willie Mullins a strong hand and both are credible contenders.