3.15 BetVictor, Remembering Envoi Allen Champion Chase (Grade 1) 3m

Affordale Fury: Runner-up in this race last year before wins at Thurles and in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown. Lame behind when disappointing in the Irish Gold Cup on only appearance since. Lacks a recent run but highly effective sort proved last season that he belongs at this level.

Banbridge: Highly admirable 10-year-old showed his wellbeing with a recent flat win at Gowran Park. Runner-up in the King George last season before not running to that level in the Ryanair Chase when third, and then didn’t manage to complete in the Grand National at Aintree. Reproduction of his best makes him a player, though younger rivals are on the scene.

Croke Park: Former Grade 1-winning novice chaser is rated 146 these days and others have more compelling profiles for this particular assignment.

Fleur In The Park: Talented seven-year-old has turned inside-out since sent chasing, and has really thrived since the spring. A Fairyhouse Grade 1 win was backed up with a second to American Grand National winner Western Fold in a Punchestown Festival Grade 1, and he returned in fine form at Gowran Park recently to win in Grade 2 company. This is a much more demanding assignment, but he’s a second-season chaser on the up for a red-hot yard.

Haiti Couleurs: National Hunt Chase, Irish Grand National, Welsh National and Grade 2 Denman Chase among his CV of big-race wins in recent times. Strong stayer didn’t fire in the Cheltenham Gold Cup or Grand National the last twice. Clearly dangerous when on song, but entitled to improve from this run after 203 days off.

Heart Wood: Seized a fine opportunity with both hands when bolting up in a Fact To File-less Ryanair Chase last spring. Found Grey Dawning and Solness too strong back at Aintree in the Melling Chase when last seen, though he did win on his return over a similar trip to this last season at Punchestown. Possibly more effective over a mid-range trip, but represents the yard responsible for having Envoi Allen in peak shape for this race regularly - so they very much know what type of horse is required. They also notched a double here yesterday.

Romeo Coolio: Quite the achievement to have won three Grade 1 novice chases in Ireland last season by early February, including a ding-dong battle with Cheltenham heroine Kargese for the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown. Beaten before stamina came into play when 9/4 favourite for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase on latest appearance at Cheltenham.

Course winner has his stamina to prove, and has to deliver the goods in open company, but a chance we haven’t seen the best of him yet.

Conclusion

Despite the lack of a recent run, a chance is taken on Affordale Fury going one better than his second to the stalwart this race is named after 12 months ago. He’s proven himself as a stayer over three miles, will be fine on the ground and has course form. On official ratings, he’s also the top rated. Romeo Coolio might be the class act of the race, but needs to show he stays this far, meaning Heart Wood might be the most solid choice to give the selection the greatest deal of trouble.