12.50 2m. 4f. 5 Declared. Sky Bet Killiney Novice S'chase (Grade 3) of €35,000.00 5-y-o plus
1st - €21,000.00 2nd - €7,000.00 3rd - €3,500.00 4th - €1,750.00 5th - €1,050.00 6th - €700.00
FormscanBy Tom Weekes - Willie Mullins has made this interesting by declaring Asterion Forlonge but preference is for ENVOI ALLEN, despite giving away 11lbs. Undefeated ENVOI ALLEN's ability is beyond question and while he has never raced with 'heavy' in the going description, is nonetheless very much proven on soft, is ideally suited to this trip and has the ability to give away today's 11lbs. Asterion Forlonge's presence is fascinating but Willie Mullins' hand may have been forced, given the tricky gelding's marked preference for going right-handed. He won a Grade 1 hurdle going left-handed but jumps right and comes here on a retrieval mission having fallen at Limerick on St Stephen's Day (he returned with blood at the nostrils as a result of the fall). Asterion Forlonge, who needs to race on the inside, has very good ability but is less reliable that ENVOI ALLEN and might struggle to win. French import Fils D'oudairies has shown nice ability in two Irish chase runs but faces his stiffest task todate. Sempo was smart over hurdles but is a maiden over fences while Dinny Lacey, who failed to win over hurdles, takes a big step up in grade having won at Limerick latest. Punitive was 6L behind Fils D'oudairies at Navan in December but needs to show vast improvement to get involved.
A novice steeplechase for five years old and upwardsWeights - 5-y-o 10st 10lbs 6-y-o and up 11st 3lbs Mares allowed 7lbsPenalties - Penalties (handicaps excluded) - Winner of two steeplechases 4lb extra Of three steeplechases or of a Grade 3 steeplechase 7lb extra Of two Grade 3 steeplechases or a Grade 2 steeplechase 9lb extra Of a Grade 1 steeplechase 11lb extra