CHANCE OF A LIFETIME
WILLIE Mullins has dominated the EMS Copiers Novice Handicap Chase (4.15) race with Pattern-class chasers, winning it seven times in the last eight years, with all seven carrying 11 stone or more.
It’s therefore no surprise to see that Mister Policeman is favourite off a mark of 149. It may seem daft to oppose the topweight, but at the same time, the claims of are more obvious.
Gavin Cromwell’s charge would have gone very close but for falling at the last in the Leopardstown Handicap Chase at the DRF, and the handicapper has been remarkably kind in raising him just 2lb for that with winner Heart Wood placed in Grade 1 company at Aintree on his next start.
He gets 12lb for Mister Policeman here and that looks too good to ignore. ALLEGORIE DE VASSY (4.50) was behind stablemate Instit when the pair filled the places in the Mares Chase last year, although she had also run at both Cheltenham and Fairyhouse and was perhaps over the top.
That notion was backed up by her Cheltenham effort when beaten only 2½ lengths by winner Impervious, as opposed to the 17½ lengths she trailed here.
Fresher
Willie Mullins has brought her here a bit fresher this year by missing Fairyhouse, and with better ground in her favour here, she can turn the tables on Instit, who is the one - ALLEGORIE DE VASSY - LIFETIME AMBITION - LARK IN THE MORNING
4.50 5.25 7.05
backing up quickly this year.
A bigger danger will come from Brides Hill who is unbeaten this year and missed Cheltenham with a late setback. She’s surprisingly short in the market, however, given that, and may have to play second fiddle if Allegorie de Vassy is at her peak.
LIFETIME AMBITION (5.25, Nap) has an excellent record at this venue, with form figures of 2341723 tending to come in strong races, and he tends to go best in the spring, winning the Louis Fitzgerald Hurdle here in 2021 from Fastorslow and finishing second to Capodanno in the Grade 1 Ellier Novice Chase the folHis lowing year. latest appearance here saw him finish third to Galopin des Champs in the 2022 John Durkan Chase and he made a winning start for Pat Doyle
PUNCHESTOWN
when winning a hunter chase at Cork last time.
A repeat of that in today’s Champios Hunters Chase would put him bang there in this company but there must be a significant chance that he will improve again for that run and the return to Punchestown.
I’d make him favourite and think he could be a major force in this division, with Aintree 2025 very much his long-term aim.
Paper
The Novice Hurdle represents a step up, on paper at least, for Fred Winter winner LARK IN THE MORNIN (7.05), but his participation at Cheltenham was in doubt until the last minute due to the heavy ground and connections have made no secret of the belief that he needs a sound surface to show his very best form.
He will surely find the going here much more to his liking and looks the one to beat as a result.