The Grade 3 Kerry National has risen to become a popular early season target for some big jumping names in Ireland in recent seasons. With Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins both in attendance, Joe Napier goes through the field and gives his verdict.
Martin Brassil recorded a significant success a year ago courtesy of Desertmore House, who will seek to defend his title this season.
FLOORING PORTER
(Gavin Cromwell/Keith Donoghue)
Much better known as a staying hurdler, Flooring Porter may have a second go at fences this season after an aborted attempt at novice chasing last term. Ultimately, he ended up chasing a third Stayers’ Hurdle crown once again, and fared admirably once more in going down only to Teahupoo at Cheltenham.
He then disappointed at Aintree, however, though a plot appears to be on regarding his chasing potential. He reappeared over the summer at Killarney over 2m1f, a much shorter trip than ideal, and was soundly beaten. Though he remains off that same mark, it is very plausible that he improves significantly for the step back up to 3m and 149 definitely underestimates his ability. It is difficult to escape the feeling he may need a little more leniency from the handicapper to actually snare a prize like this though.
PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS
(Gavin Cromwell/Mark Walsh)
Gavin Cromwell holds a strong hand, as Perceval Legallois has gone off as favourite or joint favourite at Punchestown and Galway the last twice, the latter in the flagship Galway Plate. He was runner-up at Punchestown before finishing eighth at Galway, but just six starts over fences highlights that he has significant potential.
He would probably have won at the Dublin Racing Festival in February before his gallant Punchestown second, but he went up 7lb in the handicap as a result. Though he won over 3m over hurdles, the Galway Plate’s 2m6½f trip was the furthest he had faced over fences, and he did not look entirely at home off his highest mark yet. More looks to be needed though it would not come as a big surprise if he found the requisite improvement.
ZANAHIYR
(Gordon Elliott/Jack Kennedy)
Another reinvented hurdler, who at his best was third in the 2023 Champion Hurdle, Zanahiyr continues the trend of inexperienced chasers dominating this market. He too has had just six starts over fences and is still only a seven-year-old, as he emerged during a juvenile hurdling season which saw him go off favourite for the 2021 Triumph Hurdle.
He was campaigned highly last term, though did not make the mark in Grade 1 novice events. However, on his first handicap start, he was a close third in the Galway Plate, albeit it would have been disappointing that he could not justify odds-on favouritism at Tramore last time out. He may well be worth a go at 3m at this point of his career, but a revised mark of 149 looks tough against more seasoned chasers and equally unexposed types.
THE REAL WHACKER
(Patrick Neville/Sam Twiston-Davies)
The Real Whacker is one of just two members in a very specific club, the other being no less than Galopin Des Champs. They are the only two horses to defeat Gerri Colombe over fences, Patrick Neville’s charge doing so in the 2023 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase when jumping boldly from the front.
Last season was therefore a disappointment, as though he ran respectably enough in the King George and Cotswold Chase, he was pulled up twice and finished his season on a low note at Sandown. A mark of 155 still looks fairly heady, especially as he has never demonstrated his best form fresh, so more looks to be needed.
THE FIELD
The last two winners of the race in Desertmore House and Busselton return. The latter has been in suspect form though, but the defending champion has a fair shout off 9lb higher, as connections must have Aintree dreams after just missing out on the Grand National field in April. He was an authoritative winner a year ago.
Amirite is now a standing order in events like this and will surely take one out at some point, although he could still do with easing a few pounds in the weights. Duffle Coat was hit hard by a 5lb rise for his second in the Galway Plate, but that was reflective of his recent improvement.
Willie Mullins’ charge is Horantzau D’airy, though his mark of 142 looks more based on his trainer than his chase efforts to date. The opposite could be said of Solitary Man who conceded Duffle Coat wait and a beating at Killarney in May, and has loads of potential after just four chase runs.
Fakir d’Oudairies has a class edge if staying this trip and will appreciate this return to better ground, as will Chemical Energy, whose fifth in the galway Plate could easily be improved upon over this greater stamina test. He is 1lb lower than when sixth in this last term when there was a little cut in the surface. Stablemate The Goffer has been given some rope by the handicapper should he return to form too.
VERDICT
Desertmore House can mount a decent defence of his title, but the youngest horse in the field in SOLITARY MAN could already be set to upset his elders. Desertmore House won this after just three chase starts last season, so the selection’s four runs over fences are not seen as a problem, while every winners since 2019 has carried under 11st, which he scrapes under. With potential for more, he gets the verdict, with Gordon Elliott’s Chemical Energy, Duffle Coat and The Goffer all feared.
- Solitary Man
- Desertmore House
- Chemical Energy
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