'He's in the form of his life' - who fancies their chances in the Drinmore?

Sunday: 1.55 Fairyhouse
Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase (Grade 1) | 2m4f | 4yo+ | RTE/RTV

This is a Drinmore drenched in quality. Only Gaillard Du Mesnil is a maiden over fences but that doesn't do him justice as the choice of Paul Townend was third to L'Homme Presse in the Brown Advisory and filled the same position in the Irish Grand National at this venue last April.

He brings experience to the table but this is his first start for 230 days and the likes of Three Stripe Life, Banbridge and Mighty Potter have race fitness on their side. That could be a telling factor.

Mighty Potter was just killing time over hurdles. He is built for chasing and everything about him screams chaser, so having managed to win two Grade 1s over hurdles tells you all you need to know about his raw ability.

He probably wasn't mad about making his own running at Down Royal but he jumped well in the main and won a shade more comfortably than the winning margin suggests. This race was a natural progression for him and he looks the most likely winner.

Three Stripe Life is tough and dependable. He couldn't reel in Mighty Potter when the pair clashed in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown last Christmas but went on to finish second in the Ballymore and landed the Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree. He's a top prospect and his jumping was neat and tidy at Naas.

Banbridge has been breathtaking since switching to fences. He won the Martin Pipe off 137 and finished last season with a mark of 143, so he is officially a 7lb inferior animal to Mighty Potter over hurdles. Could his slick jumping bridge that gap over fences?

His stylish success in the Grade 2 Arkle Trial at Cheltenham last month earned him an RPR of 158, just 1lb lower than Jonbon achieved at Warwick. A repeat of that would make him tough to beat.

The Drinmore winner has come from the top two in the market for nine of the last ten years, the exception being Coney Island in 2016, and it might be foolish to look beyond the obvious this time too. Mighty Potter is the one who appeals most.

'Jack had a smile on his face after riding him'

Gordon Elliott throws his two most talented novice chasers in against each other in an attempt to win the Drinmore for a record-extending seventh time.

It was here that Elliott won his first Grade 1 with Jessies Dream in 2010, since when Don Cossack (2013), No More Heroes (2015), Death Duty (2017), Delta Work (2018) and Envoi Allen (2020) have all won for the Cullentra House trainer.

Mighty Potter and Three Stripe Life were both Grade 1-winning novices over hurdles and the early evidence suggests they may be able to achieve the same over fences. Both were odds-on favourites to win their beginners' chase and they obliged with the minimum of fuss.

Elliott said: "Jack [Kennedy] had a smile on his face after riding Mighty Potter earlier this week, so when he’s happy, I’m happy. He’s gone more relaxed this year than he was last year. He had to do all the donkey work himself at Down Royal and he got the job done.

"Three Stripe Life is a lovely horse. He’s a big, gross horse and I’d say there could be a lot of improvement in him from that race in Naas."

What they say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Banbridge
He's in good shape. It looks a very good race, but we're looking forward to it and hoping he can go well.

Barry Connell, trainer of Enniskerry
He's in the form of his life, never been better. He has taken to fences so well and that’s given him real confidence. He’s a real efficient jumper. He’s in against some big names but if it comes down to a jumping test, I don’t think he’ll be found wanting. I’d probably be disappointed if he didn’t come home in the first three.

Paul Townend, rider of Gaillard Du Mesnil
It's surprising that he's still a maiden over fences to be honest, but he ran into a few decent sorts last year and ran well in good races. He has so much experience to bring to the table. My only worry is that it’s his first run of the year in such a competitive race like this, taking on the likes of Three Stripe Life, Mighty Potter, and Banbridge. They all have runs under their belt.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Gaillard Du Mesnil, El Barra, Adamantly Chosen, Authorized Art and Shadow Rider
Gaillard Du Mesnil has a high rating but I'm just a little worried about the trip. He possibly needs further. El Barra has a chance and battled on to win after making a bad mistake in a Grade 3 at Cork last time. Trip and ground should suit Adamantly Chosen after winning his last two. He'll be competitive. Authorized Art has done nothing wrong winning his last three. He has to have his chance in an open enough race. Shadow Rider will need a lot of rain to be competitive in this.

Noel Meade, trainer of Thedevilscoachman
We’re touch and go as whether to run him or not at the minute. We’ll have to wait and see. He probably needs it softer than it is, so we’ll hope for rain. If the conditions do come right, then we’ll take a chance on him.

Peter Fahey, trainer of Visionarian
I thought that he was very good the last day at Punchestown. It’s a very competitive race – no doubt about it – but he’s done nothing wrong over fences. He had to give a load away the last time out, and we hope that he’ll be able to run a big race in this.

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