3m4f Hollywoodbets Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Grade B) (5yo+)
Plenty of question marks exist over several of these running in the Irish Grand National Trial with The Big Dog seeking to win this race back-to-back. He comes into this off a 9lbs higher mark, but was rather disappointing in the Welsh National when well-fancied in December.
Coko Beach is a class angle in the race, but he may still be a little too high in the weights. He had a hard enough race in the Thyestes last time which was probably one of his main aims of the season and is not a proven stayer at this trip based on his attempts at it thus far.
The two more interesting runners in this race are the unexposed novice chasers, Floueur and TORYGRAPH for Gordon Elliott. Both look like they have the potential to show improvement on what they have done so far in their short careers over this extended trip, however slight preference goes to the latter who is 2.5x the price and comes into this on a very getable looking mark of 132 for his first start in a handicap having posted a career best RPR of 144 over the smaller obstacles.
Torygraph was 2 from starts 5 over hurdles and raced in last season’s Albert Bartlett when sent off at a short price of 7/1. He finished midfield, albeit not too far behind some decent sorts before then finishing well behind Galopin Des Champs, Stattler and Telmesomethinggirl in the Grade 1 Irish Mirror Novice hurdle at this track – smart looking form.
Torygraph’s first three chase starts in beginner events have seen him hold form figures of 363, however the middle attempt was marred by being lame, whereas the other two over this track provided encouragement that he could be an out-and-out stayer in the making with all three of those starts raced over less than three miles.
His jumping has looked solid, if not spectacular, but that is often all you need in a race over 3m 5f. The soft ground should suit Torygraph and a racing weight of 10st 12lbs looks attractive for this son of Mahler.
1pt each-way Torygraph @10/1, 14:40 Punchestown, Sunday (1/5 odds, 4 places with several bookmakers)
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