Punchestown Festival Day 1 - Growise Champion Novice Chase 2010

6.40 Punchestown

Growise Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1) (5YO plus)

Winner €49,600

Pick: Lenabane (e/w)

China Rock: Ran well in top novice hurdles last season, including two successive fourth pace finishes behind Mikael D’Haugenet at the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals; Well beaten on chasing debut but got the better of Alpha Ridge on his next start; Ran better than most will give credit for over too short a trip when fourth to Sizing Europe and his form entitles him for major consideration: Has fallen short of stamina (ground was heavy) before so 3m seems a bit on long side for him.

Jadanili: Bolted up in Powers Gold Cup and looked as if longer trips would be no problem that day; Race fell into his lap though, with Zarrito falling when cruising, Kempes, Nicanor and Shakervillz all not jumping and Roberto Goldback running well below form; If he runs literally on that form, would have a massive chance but doubts.

Kempes: Very good hurdler who won a Grade 2 over fences and was in front of some pretty useful fencing types when second in the Champion Novice over 32m at Punchestown ; Has taken the time to get the hang on things over fences but did it good style in a Grade 2;  Ran an atrocious race last time out (only 3 finished) and not likely to stay 3m1f.

Lenabane: Has some very smart hurdler form going over the past season, and has transferred his good attitude to fences, with three wins out of four starts over hurdles; Performed better over fences and hasn’t been disgraced in Grade 1 company, running some excellent races; Was hampered a bit when unlucky fourth last time but sound jumper and stayer so should have chance here.

Saddlers Storm: Had 9 starts over fences, so plenty of fencing experience and was on a 4 timer when falling in the Irish National (sent off as Favourite); Was progressive before his fall but needs to step up a level to win this.

The Midnight Club: Has taken time of things to get the hang of chasing (3 runs before winning 2 starts ago);Was running on really well in the Jewson at the festival last time, and will stay 3 miles perfectly; Will need to step up a level here though and was running off 139 last time, so no doubting he could have run well above that mark; Chance.

Whatuthink: Good hurdler at his best, his best effort a World Hurdle third; Was beaten on chasing debut and won impressively but his fall when headed by Quiscover Fontaine and efforts in Grade 1 company fail to inspire.

Zaarito: Starting to deliver on earlier promise since switched to fences, touched off by Captain Cee Bee at Naas before winning well here next time out; Only got touched off by Captain Cee Bee which is great form in the sense of things, but he was coming back from a 2 year layoff; On the three times he has stood up over fences, he has been touched off by Captain Cee Bee and has won by 6 and 8 lengths; Cruising in the P.J Moriarty when falling at the last and would have taken a big hand in the finish; Could easily be called one to beat in putting in a clear round, but once again fell in the Powers Gold Cup when coming to win and as well as that, stamina might be a slight issue.

VERDICT: A very interesting race. Zarrito is easily classy enough (you could argue that he should have won 2 Grade 1’s this season) and is probably the best horse in the race, but has fallen in every Grade 1 Chase he’s contested. The Midnight Club will stay this well and was running an eye-catching race in the Jewson, but was well handicapped off 139 and will need to step up. China Rock has the form to go close, but flattened out when challenging for the lead and fears are that the same thing could happen again. Saddlers Storm was progressive before his fall but needs to step up another level to win this. Jadanli holds a strict form chance on his win the Powers Gold Cup but only 3 finished in a very hard race and the form is rather untrustworthy at the moment. Shakervillz fell last time in the Powers Gold Cup and only finished because he remounted. Quiscover Fontaine is unexposed (especially at longer trip). At 12/1, LENABANE looks like an OK bit of e/w value at 12/1 as he jumps well and has run well in some tough races.