The Irish Daily Star Champion Hunters Steeplechase

5

Down The Highway (Ire) 12

Owned by: Coolderry Partnership g Bay by Duke of Marmalade - Petit Moselle (Sadler’s Wells) Colours: LILAC, purple sleeves & cap

Blinkers, 10

12-00

Mr M J Love (7)

Bred by: Philip Blake & Rodger O’ Dwyer Ciaran Murphy WESTMEATH 66-1433

RACING POST VERDICT Cork winner last April, third to Dinny Lacey when bidding for a repeat early this month Probable SP: 50/1

Career record 17 runs, 2 wins, 6 places Strike-Rate 11 % Prize-money earned €16,363

Down The Highway 2 N.H. wins €13,062.50

25/1 Mr M.J. Love 11.7 (BK) 3 3/4L 6L 3rd to Dinny Lacey 11.9 CK 10 APR 8rn hnt.ch 2m 4f Yld

(PtoP) 5/1 M J Love 21L 4th to Le Malin (FR) LISRONAGH 26-FEB-23 5r Open 3m Yld

6

Miss A B O’Connor (3)

Drumcliff

(Ire)

19 TStrap, 12 12-00

Owned by: John P McManus g Bay by Presenting - Dusty Too Colours: EMERALD GREEN & ORANGE HOOPED, white cap Bred by: Simon Tindall Padraig Roche KILDARE 7-457-1

RACING POST VERDICT Three-time chase winner scored for this rider on his recent point-to-point debut Probable SP: 20/1

Career record 28 runs, 4 wins, 10 places Strike-Rate 14 % Prize-money earned €70,103

Drumcliff 4 N.H. wins €54,262.50

(PtoP) 2/1

A O’Connor won 2 1/2L 36L from Woodbrook Boy and Fr Humphrey QUAKERSTOWN 09-APR-23

7 Its

Mr D O’Connor

15rn to It Could Be You 11.7 GAL 5 SEP 22 hcp chse (0-116)2m 6f 111yds Yld

On The Line (Ire) 15

CPiece, 6 12-00

Owned by: C C R Racing Syndicate g Brown by Presenting - Ten Dollar Bill (Accordion) Colours: BLACK, white epaulettes, white chevrons on sleeves, black cap Bred by: J & C Roche Emmet Mullins CARLOW 23-112f

RACING POST VERDICT Won twice in points before excellent second at Aintree, fell at Becher’s in the Foxhunter Probable SP: 5/1

Career record 7 runs, 2 wins, 4 places Strike-Rate 28 % Prize-money earned €28,038

Its On The Line 2 N.H. wins €12,685.00 D

Mr Derek O’Connor 12.0 (CP) fell in race won by Famous Clermont (FR) 12.0 AINTREE 13 APR 27rn hnt.ch 2m 5f 19yds Gd /Sft

Mr Derek O’Connor 12.0 (CP) 1 3/4L 2nd to Premier Magic 12.0 CHELTENHAM 17 MAR 23rn hnt.ch 3m 2f 70yds Sft

(PtoP) 4/5FF Ms M O’Sullivan won 1L 4L from Lord Schnitzel and It Came To Pass KILDORRERY 19-FEB-23 4r Open 3m Yld

8 Lough Derg Spirit (Ire)

15 C,T, 11 12-00

Mr J W Hendrick (7)

Owned by: Catherine Murphy & Bernice Murphy g Bay by Westerner - Sno-Cat Lady (Executive Perk) Colours: EMERALD GREEN & ORANGE CHECK, white & emerald green hooped sleeves, white cap Bred by: P J O’Connor Denis Paul Murphy WEXFORD 5-22123

RACING POST VERDICT Veteran comes into the reckoning on the strength of a fine run in the Foxhunter at Aintree Probable SP: 8/1

Career record 16 runs, 4 wins, 7 places Strike-Rate 25 % Prize-money earned €66,280

Lough Derg Spirit 4 N.H.

9

Snugsborough Hall (Ire) 12 Hood, 12 12-00

Mr R A Berry (7)

Owned by: Rising Sun Partnership g Bay by Beneficial - Saddlers Arc (Saddlers’ Hall) Colours: DARK BLUE, white diamond, white & dark blue hooped sleeves, dark blue & white striped cap

Bred by: Mr Ray Loughnane Liam P Cusack LAOIS 03330-1

RACING POST VERDICT Two years since his last success on the track, returned from break for a smooth point win Probable SP: 20/1

Career record 42 runs, 5 wins, 16 places Strike-Rate 11 % Prize-money earned €115,762

Snugsborough Hall 5 N.H. wins €78,438.00 C (PtoP) 3/1

Fair and Russian Diamond

14/1 HR119 Adam Ellis 10.1 (H) 55L last of 12fn, 13rn to Finest Evermore 11.12

10

Vaucelet

(Fr)

42 8 12-00

Owned by: Samuel John Hegarty & Miss Jennifer O’Kane g Bay by Authorized - Peggy Pierji (Cadoudal)

Colours: PURPLE, yellow stars, red & yellow striped sleeves, red cap, black star

Mr B O’Neill

Bred by: M Pierre Julienne D M Christie FERMANAGH 12111-7

RACING POST VERDICT Career had been on a steady upward curve before Cheltenham lapse, capable of making amends Probable SP: 9/4

Career record 11 runs, 6 wins, 8 places Strike-Rate 54 % Prize-money earned €57,856

Vaucelet (FR) 6 N.H. wins €52,052.00 D

Mr Barry O’Neill 12.0 10L 7th of 23 to Premier Magic 12.0 CHELTENHAM 17 MAR hnt.ch 3m 2f 70yds Sft

2/1 Mr B. O’Neill 12.0 won nk 7L from Dorking Cock 11.7 and Coastal Tiep (FR) 11.7 DRYL 26 DEC 22 8rn hnt.ch 3m Sft

(PtoP) 1/2FF B O’Neill won 1/2L 1/2L from Coastal Tiep (FR) and Le Malin (FR) PORTRUSH 15-OCT-22 4r Open 3m Gd/Yld

Mr T Walsh (7)

11

Visioman (Fr) 18

Owned by: Mrs Nathalie Halsall g Bay by Vision D’Etat - Loumie (Loup Solitaire)

Colours: BLACK, light green seams, light green cap, black star

10 12-00

Bred by: Ecurie Manuel Garcie S C Benjamin Halsall DUBLIN 1142-24

RACING POST VERDICT Would have finished closer but for interference when fourth to Dinny Lacey at Cork Probable SP: 33/1

Career record 27 runs, 5 wins, 11 places Strike-Rate 18 % Prize-money earned €60,996

Visioman (FR) 5 N.H. wins €48,529.50

28/1 Mr T. Walsh 11.7 3 3/4L 6L 1L 4th to Dinny Lacey 11.9 CK 10 APR 8rn hnt.ch 2m 4f Yld

(PtoP) 2/1FF Ms S A Carter 18L 2nd to Woodbrook Boy NENAGH 19-FEB-23 6r4f Open 3m Yld

(PtoP) 8/1 Troy Walsh 32L 2nd to Samcro TINAHELY 16-OCT-22 6r4f Open 3m Gd/Yld

12

Dancing After Dark

(Ire) 18 7 11-07

Owned by: Kate Costello & Brothers Syndicate f Brown by Mountain High - After Dark (King’s Theatre)

Colours: LIGHT BLUE & PINK QUARTERED, light blue sleeves, quartered cap

Mr M J O’Connor

Bred by: Jack Bennett J G Bennett LIMERICK 0620-10

RACING POST VERDICT Winner of two of her three starts in points, unplaced favourite in her first hunter chase Probable SP: 50/1

Career record 5 runs, 1 places Prize-money earned €2,265

Dancing After Dark

7/2Fav Mr D. O’Connor 11.11 35L 10th of 11fn, 14rn to Lar’s Lass 11.11 CK 10 APR hnt.ch 3m Yld

(PtoP) 3/1 M J O’Connor won 32L 20L from Desert Cave and Imperial Eddie LISCARROLL 19-MAR-23 6r4f Wnr of One 3m Hvy

10/1 HR99 P.J. O’Hanlon 11.6 35L 14th of 16 to Lily Light Foot 10.12 KILB 15 JUL 22 hcp hdl (80-102)3m 100yds Gd

TONGUESTRAP ON No. 1, 6 BLINKERS & TONGUE STRAP ON No. 2 CPiece ON No. 4, 7 BLINKERS ON No. 5

CHEEKPIECE & TONGUE STRAP ON No. 8 HOOD ON No. 9

LAST YEAR 1st Billaway, 2nd Vaucelet, 3rd Dorking Cock

TRAINER W.P. Mullins WEIGHT 12-0 TIME 6 min. 27.2 sec. GOING Good - Yielding

BETTING FORECAST 9-4 Vaucelet, 7-2 Billaway, 5 Its On The Line, 11-2 Chris’s Dream, 8 Lough Derg Spirit, 9 Annamix, 12 Dinny Lacey, 20 Drumcliff, Snugsborough Hall, 33 Visioman, 50 Dancing After Dark, Down The Highway

Race 6 Predictor

Race Verdict

The Irish hunter chase scene presents a confused picture after below-par performances from some of the main players. A little unlucky here last year, VAUCELET may make amends for that and for last month’s Cheltenham disappointment. Last year’s Cheltenham winner Billaway completed the double 12 months ago but has suffered recent reverses. Its On The Line\ and Chris’s Dream, runner-up and fifth respectively at Cheltenham, should be in the mix. [Alan Sweetman] Source: Racing Post

SELECTION: VAUCELET

SELECTION: BILLAWAY

Next Best: Billaway