Racecards
17:30 Punchestown (IRE)
BoyleSports Champion Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Yielding to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- €275,000 added
- Winner: €162,250
- 2nd: €52,250
- 3rd: €24,750
- 4th: €11,001
- Form 242142
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Jack Kennedy
tracked leaders, dropped to 7th 4 out, 6th next, soon ridden, went moderate 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace
- Form 023533
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D E Mullins
in rear, bumped at 5th, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
- Form 10112F
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 156
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Mark Walsh
mid-division, slight mistake 5 out, closer in 5th 3 out, ridden in 7th entering straight, went moderate 5th at last, no extra
- Form 11117-F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 172
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Paul Townend
tracked leader in 2nd, jumped slightly right 4 out, slight mistake next, ridden in 2nd entering straight, no impression on winner before last, kept on same pace run-in
- Form 1-1D122
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 167
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey D J Mullins
tracked leaders, slight mistake 1st, 4th 3 out, soon ridden, moderate 3rd entering straight, soon no impression in 4th
- Form 32-2345
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 154
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey D N Russell
rear of mid-division, pushed along halfway, ridden in 4th after 3 out, moderate 5th 2 out, no impression, mistake at last
- Form 95045P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey Keith Donoghue
always behind, jumped left, bumped at 5th, jumped badly left 3 out, no impression
- Form 11P447
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer G Elliott
- Jockey M A Enright
rear of mid-division, no impression from 4 out, never a factor
- Form 12-1121
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 164
- Trainer W P Mullins
- Jockey Mr P W Mullins
made all, clear at halfway, pushed along and clear before 2 out, ridden and stayed on well run-in
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Willie Mullins looks to have this at his mercy though this hasn't been the best of races for the yard in recent years. DOUVAN has been here four times and won the lot. The 2016 Arkle winner finished lame when long odds-on for last season's Champion Chase at Cheltenham and didn't reappear until the same race last month when he looked his old self before falling four out in the race won by Altior. He should now be at concert pitch and will need to be against his illustrious stable companions Min and Un De Sceaux. The former eventually finished a seven-length second to Altior at the Festival before finding 2m4f taxing his stamina at Aintree, where he went down by a neck to Politologue. Back over his optimum trip he rates a huge threat, as does Un De Sceaux, narrowly beaten by Fox Norton in this a year ago but much better on ground with plenty of give as he later showed in the Grade 1 Clarence House at Ascot. He'd just been headed by Doctor Phoenix when the latter fell two out at Fairyhouse last time but there looked to be plenty left in the tank.
Formwatch
A Toi Phil (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Soon raced in moderate 5th, moderate 6th after 4th, some headway but no impression from before 4 out, left 2nd from 2 out and no danger to winner, 2nd of 7, 18l behind Un De Sceaux (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) hvy in Apr.
Ballycasey (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Soon raced in moderate 4th, no impression from before 4 out, left 3rd and kept on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 7, dist behind Un De Sceaux (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) hvy in Apr.
Doctor Phoenix (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Soon raced in 3rd, closed and slight mistake 12th, challenged 3 out, marginal lead when fell next, at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) hvy in Apr.
Douvan (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5th, led 7th, travelling strongly when fell 4 out, at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Min (FR) 11-10fav (11-7) Travelled strongly, 2nd until the 2nd, raced in 3rd until challenged 3 out, jumped right 2 out, shaken up to lead narrowly before last, headed flat, stayed on, just held close home, 2nd of 6, nk behind Politologue (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr.
Ordinary World (IRE) 40-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, hampered 6th, behind 8th, headway on outside before 3 out, 5th and well in touch when jumped right 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 9, 35l behind Altior (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Tell Us More (IRE) 66-1 (10-3) Waited with, hampered and pulled up after 7th, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp hvy in Apr.
The Game Changer (IRE) 5-4fav (12-6) 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Bobeska (12-0) at Dundalk 1m 4f pol in Mar.
Un De Sceaux (FR) 5-6fav (11-12) Led, soon clear, reduced lead from 6th, pressed 3 out, just headed when left clear 2 out, stayed on well, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) hvy in Apr beating A Toi Phil (11-10) by 18l, 7 ran.
Special Tiara 25-1 (11-10) Set good gallop, clear 4th until got in very tight at the 5th, headed 7th, left in lead 4 out, soon headed, slow and lost place 3 out, weakened after, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.