Punting pointers: Runyon Rattler in great form says Philip Rothwell

3.10 Naas
O'Driscoll O'Neil Handicap Chase | 2m4f | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Boy drops back in trip

It is not quite Mo Farah pitching up against Usain Bolt in a 100m sprint, but Velocity Boy faces a much sharper test than in his previous two outings.

The William Murphy-trained ten-year-old was last seen in the 3m5f Porterstown Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse, a race won by Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Presenting Percy in 2017, and before that he fell in the Cork Grand National over the same trip when still in contention at the second-last.

Velocity Boy has a mile less to run, but will that extra emphasis on speed see him claim a first success since February 2017?

Drop in class for Nellie

Nellie Pledge was last seen trying to keep tabs on the prolific Camelia De Cotte in a Grade 2 mares’ chase at Thurles last month, so she will surely enjoy her return to a handicap off a mark of 114.

Her last appearance in a handicap was a winning one. That was at Navan last month when she made a mockery of a mark of 102 in a 3m handicap chase.

She is 12lb higher now but plenty of punters will feel she could cope with the rise.

Nellie Pledge: down in class after locking horns with Camelia De CotteCredit: Alain Barr

Scoir aims for first win since 2016

You have to go all the way back to October 2016 for Scoir Mear’s most recent success ­– a handicap hurdle at Galway off a mark of 113.

However, the nine-year-old has some cracking efforts in hot contests to his name so it would be no surprise should he end that drought over a trip his trainer thinks he should blossom at.

What the rest say

William Murphy, trainer of Velocity Boy
I’d love a drop more rain as his best runs have come on soft ground, possibly even heavy. This might well be his best trip, although I’d love to run him on heavy over a trip as he goes the same speed no matter what the ground.

Tom Mullins, trainer of Scoir Mear
It’s a pity he missed last weekend but the ground was too quick. He’s ended up here and we think he’s in good form.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Roaring Bull
He’s turning into a disappointing horse. He made heavy enough weather of winning his beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day and then was well beaten on his handicap chase debut at Thurles last month. He was quite a capable sort as a hurdler but has yet to reach that level as a chaser and he’ll have to leave the form of his last run well behind to make an impression here.

Paul Nolan, trainer of Peculiar Genius
He’s been pretty consistent. He’s won twice in Tramore so maybe that’s his track. He seems to be a good jumper and should run a respectable race.

Philip Rothwell, trainer of Runyon Rattler and Marakoush
Runyon Rattler is in great from and should run well. Marakoush needs an awful lot of rain. He’s turned a corner but needs heavy ground to be at his best.

Read The Briefing from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news