Dr. P.j. Moriarty Novice Chase (grade 1)

€90000.00 added, 5yo plus, 2m 5f, €58500.00 penalty

8 runners

• WILLIE MULLINS HAS TAKEN THIS THE LAST TWO YEARS
• SEVEN YEAR OLDS HAVE TAKEN SEVEN OF THE LAST TEN RUNNINGS
• IN THE LAST TEN RENEWALS EIGHT YEAR OLDS HAVE WON TWO AND HAVE PLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS
• SEVEN OF THE LAST TEN WINNERS FINISHED IN THE FIRST THREE LTO
• FOUR OF THE LAST FIVE WINNERS WERE RUNNING WITHIN 28 DAYS
• SIX WINNERS IN THE LAST TEN RENEWALS HAD RUN NO MORE THAN THREE TIMES THAT SEASON
• HORSES THAT HAD PROVEN GRADE ONE FORM HAVE TAKEN SEVEN OF THE LAST TEN MORIARTY CHASES
• EIGHT OF THE LAST TEN WINNERS WERE IRISH BRED
• EIGHT WINNERS IN THE LAST TEN YEARS WERE SINGLE FIGURE PRICES
• SIX OF THOSE WERE PRICED UNDER 100/30

SHORTLIST

WEAPON’S AMNESTY

ROBERTO GOLDBACK

Tony McCormick

Zaarito has to prove he stays this distance and also has to show that he suffers no ill effects from his early fall in the Arkle Chase here two weeks ago. On form he is the standout horse in this context with his Navan run behind Captain Cee Bee being franked many times since. Of all the horses in the lineup he is the one I could genuinely see going close at the festival.

Weapons Amnesy took time to get the hang of things when sent chasing this season but has improved with each run and deserves his high ranking position in the antepost market for the RSA Chase. He would definitely prefer further over fences however and will surely be vulnerable to one with more toe. A staying on second or third here would increase confidence in his Cheltenham chances.

Roberto Goldback was an impressive winner last time and had previously beaten Cousin Vinny at Navan(reopposes on Sunday). Jessica Harringtons charge seems better suited to the intermediate trip then any of the others and won a Grade 2 Novice Hurdle here over the trip last season beating Weapons Amnesty. This way well be his “Gold Cup” on Sunday and I believe he is the most likely winner.

Cousin Vinny needs to improve his jumping on evidence to date. The former high class bumper horse is similar to another runner, Aranleigh, in that it has taken him time to get to grips with the larger obstacles. Both are high class horses at their very best and victory for either would not be a surprise although they will need to step up on form to date. Oscar Looby and Lenabane have done nothing wrong since switching codes and look faster learners than the other two but need to improve to trouble the three at the head of the market.

Summary: In a race that should evolve around Zaarito, Weapons Amnesty and Roberto Goldback, prefernce is for the latter who should be ideally suited to the 2m 5f trip and has already shown high class form over fences.