Blood Cotil returns from a 261 day break in an attempt to win a race previously conquered by the likes of Foxrock and He’llberemembered. Mullins’s charge finished off last season strongly and there could be much more to come this season having largely disappointed as a novice. Top-weight and a long layoff is slightly off-putting at the prices given the heavy going over the chase course and I am inclined to look elsewhere.
Fine Rightly has been progressing nicely as a chaser and he will love the conditions and trip. He dispatched the likes of Rule The World and Final Assault last season so has demonstrated his chasing qualities early in his career. Fine Rightly has gone up a further 7lbs for his opening chase season success but it is very likely that he remains ahead of the handicapper as he finished off that race with a bit in-hand. At a best price of 5/1 he has largely been found in the market, but he is still worth a saver at those odds based on his obvious potential.
The one that sticks out at a big price is Los Amigos. He went off favourite for the Irish Grand National last year off a 1lb higher mark of 138, and comes into this race off the back of a mediocre, but respectable performance to finish 10th out of 28 runners in his comeback outing here in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase over 3m5f. He has tried and failed at longer distances recently, but actually has a decent record at around this trip having won both starts over 21/22f in 2014, and again in his only start over this trip in 2015. The form also has sandwiched in between two finishes in the money in graded contests behind On His Own and Gallant Oscar respectively – both over approximately 3m so he seems versatile and is worth another try at this distance. His opening run should have put him spot on for this and is a solid jumper that handles the ground. Los Amigos looks decent each-way value at a big early morning price of 12/1 (stanjames).
1pt win Fine Rightly @5/1, 15:00 Leopardstown
1pt ew Los Amigos @12/1, 15:00 Leopardstown (skybet offer 1/4 odds 1,2,3 but at 10/1)