12:50 White Pepper
Any of the seven 4-year-olds going to post could find improvement given how lightly raced they are, but WHITE PEPPER has plenty of experience on her side and could put that to good use here. She receives 7lbs from the geldings and on form, her 13-length win over Iberique du Seuil at Galway in October is probably the best piece of form on offer. She finished 3rd in a Listed hurdle at Aintree last month and if she can repeat either of those runs, she should go close.
1:20 Jumping Jet
He was a beaten favourite at Galway in October, but he was competitive and may well have won if he hadn’t made a mistake at the 2nd last, so it is worth taking another chance on JUMPING JET. He won a bumper at Gowran in March by 29-lengths on soft ground and is probably worth forgiving his debut effort, especially as the yard is going well.
1:50 Glenquin Castle
This isn’t the most competitive race and so it is safest to stick with the in from GLENQUIN CASTLE. He has won his last 7 starts and didn’t look to have reached his peak when winning at Punchestown 5-weeks ago. He has a 9lb rise to overcome but in a race where very few are in form, he should be capable of overcoming that.
2:20 Grange Walk
Plenty of old favourites in this Handicap Chase but the handicapper looks to have most of the runners in his grasp. If there is a slightly unexposed horse in the lineup, then it could be GRANGE WALK. John Patrick Ryan’s horse has improved significantly since returning to handicaps and although he has been put up 7lbs for his win on Boxing Day, he won that race with some authority, beating 2 higher rated rivals and could still have some mileage on a mark of 137.
2:50 Saint Sam
Several of these runners look to be biding their time for a handicap mark so it could pay to back SAINT SAM on his chasing debut. He was a high-class Juvenile hurdler last season, including when 2nd to Zanahiyr at this track in a Grade 3 in November 2020 and it is interesting to see that his connections are wasting no time going over fences. He could make a winning start to his chase career for the in-form combination of Mullins and Townend.
3:20 Farceur Du Large
This is a relatively weak Novice’s chase so it would look to be a good opportunity for FARCEUR DU LARGE to open his account over fences. He was the best of these over hurdles and after a few educational rides over fences in the autumn, he could be ready to get his head in front. He finished 4th at Limerick 2-weeks ago, when he was backed into favouritism, but could never really land a blow. This extra trip should help and with 6 of the last 7 runners from the Noel Meade yard making the frame, it will be a surprise if he doesn’t go close in this company.
3:50 Silver King
The runners from Messrs. Mullins and Elliott will no doubt be popular, but they don’t make that much appeal on paper so there may be some decent each-way value backing SILVER KING. He finished 3rd at a huge price on his debut at Naas last month and if he can repeat that effort in a race that looks open, he could at least make the frame.
