1:30 Baroneracing.com Drinmore Novice Chase 2m 4f (Grade 1)

Burrows Saint: Irish Grand National winner qualifies to run here as he only won his beginners chase in March over this distance at Gowran Park. Progressed from that run to win Grade 3 over three miles at Limerick and then classy performance here at Easter. A rating of 156 sets the standard but given the nature of that strong-staying performance, today’s drop down in trip for a Grade 1 is a legitimate concern, couple with the fact this will be his first run since that win.

Chef Des Obeaux: First run for Willie Mullins following switch from Nicky Henderson. Won as a novice chaser last season but not until February so last opportunity to run as a novice here. Pulled up in National Hunt Chase when last seen and most of his best form over fences and hurdles has come at two miles and seven furlongs and above so may find this a little sharp. This may be a tough task on that account but rating of 149 suggests he can get competitive, notwithstanding the potential for improvement moving to Closutton.

Ronald Pump: Small syndicate-owned gelding supplemented and fully worth chancing the €8,000 fee off the back of a very promising chase debut eight-length win at this course earlier in November. Seriously progressive over hurdles last season with four wins – improving from a mark of 102 to 145 – which culminated with a win in the valuable Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final at the Easter meeting here. Three of his five wins at Fairyhouse, so he should make his presence felt.

Samcro: Star novice hurdler two seasons ago but 0-3 when campaigned as a potential Champion Hurdle horse last season and hadn’t been seen since Christmas before making chase debut at Down Royal. Connections suggested last season could have been a blessing in disguise and he was more or less foot-perfect for his first experience jumping fences on a track. That said, he beat very little there (runner up holds a rating of 118 over hurdles) and this is a big step up although he is facing similarly inexperienced rivals. Lost his cloak of invincibility last season but stepping back in the right direction now.

Tintangle: Useful mare ran to fair standard against her own sex last season when finishing third in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham was probably the highlight. Good start with two wins out of two over fences, but again kept to her own sex and this is a big step up now taking on the geldings. On all known form, she could struggle.

Fakir D’Oudairies: Very smart juvenile hurdler last season twice finishing runner-up in Grade 1 races and fourth in the Supreme. Worth noting he already has chasing experience from when he raced in France but nonetheless he produced excellent start to chasing campaign in this country when defeating Melon, the pair of them clear, in a beginners’ at Navan. In form terms, that is worth a lot more than what Samcro did at Down Royal and he was beating a horse who held the standard the Gigginstown horse failed to cut his cloth in last season. He was receiving a possibly over generous 8lb four-year-olds’ allowance there but gets it again here. Huge threat.

Conclusion

All eyes on Samcro as this is the litmus test that should provide a clear indication to whether his career is back on track. He remains a potentially top class horse but he’ll have to be to give away an 8lb allowance to Fakir D’Oudairies, who looked a natural at Navan and achieved a fair bit more on form compared to Samcro’s Down Royal win.