IF you’re looking for a bet in a big handicap chase in Ireland, your starting point is with Gordon Elliott. The Meath trainer has mounted his trainers’ championship bids on the back of success in such races, in which Gigginstown have often be the main beneficiaries.

Elliott’s entry of six in the Kerry National on Wednesday looks to be a modest total by his usual standard, but they are an intriguing bunch, none more so than Our Father, a perennial talking horse from yesteryear who would be reappearing off a 1350-day absence.

Jury Duty will likely be popular with punters however Rogue Angel, now plying his trade from Cullentra House, looks the most interesting.

The 10-year-old won this race off a mark of 133 in 2015 for Mouse Morris and will be running off 132 on Wednesday. Of course, a lot of water that has gone under the bridge since, including a famous Irish Grand National win in 2016. However the Presenting gelding lost his way in the last two seasons, failing to complete regularly resulting in his mark regressing to 125.

MOVED

Off that rating he ran well when third to Heron Heights at the Punchestown Festival and it was after that run he was moved to Elliott’s yard. His first appearance for Elliott was hugely promising when he ran a huge race to finish a close second to stablemate Timiyan in the Midlands National.

Rogue Angel got a 7lb rise for that effort but that was a fair assessment considering he was 22 lengths clear of the third horse home, and in the context of his overall profile, it was a hugely promising run.

You now have a former winner of this race coming back off a 1lb lower mark, having achieved a peak rating of 145 when at his best. It is not inconceivable in the slightest that Elliott could get him back to that level and if that is the case, he has huge scope off his mark.

Three horses to follow in the Kingdom this week

Zander (Monday)

A mark of 97 could underestimate the ability of Zander, who is likely to run in a premier nursery on Monday. Ger Lyons’s son of Oasis Dream motored home to take a very good maiden at the Galway Festival, after which the second, Wargrave, has come out and finished third in a listed contest. The Khalid Abdullah-owned should have no problems running over an extra furlong and won’t be inconvenienced if the ground turns up soft.

rovetta (Tuesday)

Jessica Harrington’s filly is in flying form after two wins at Galway and the Curragh and she has to have a huge chance in the Liam Healy Lartigue Hurdle on Tuesday. Her latest efforts came on the flat where she has improved her rating by 16lbs to 88.

What’s more, Lakemilan gave her earlier Galway hurdles win a huge boost by winning a good race at Killarney recently. Off a mark of 111 the daughter of So You Think could be thrown in.

ballyoisin (thursday)

There should be a big hurdle prize in Enda Bolger’s seven-year-old who could revert to the smaller obstacles in Kerry this week and race off a 26lb lower mark. He is in the Ladbrokes Ireland Listowel Handicap Hurdle on Thursday over two miles but he might be better suited going for a two-and-a-half mile contest on Sunday, bringing his stamina into play. He has won his two previous races, both over fences, and so he’ll go to Listowel in great form.

Groom vroom

THERE will be a best dressed groom prize of €300 awarded to a stable staff member at Listowel next Friday. It’s Ladies Day but the grooms’ competition, sponsored by McElligott’s Honda, Tralee, is open to males and females. The winner and runner-up (€100 prize) will be decided in the parade ring based on the first four races on the day. The judge is McElligott’s brand ambassador and Kerry footballer David Moran.