Robin Deuz Pois bids to keep winning thread going after maiden win last time

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase | 2m7f | 5yo+ | RTV

Gordon Elliott used a shrewd bit of placing to produce Robin Deuz Pois to open her account at the fifth attempt on the Saturday after the Cheltenham Festival at Newcastle and another win could be in the offing here.

The half-sister to 2010 Thyestes Chase second Hangover had finished in the first four on eight of her 13 starts for Paul Webber and hit the target on just her second start for her new connections, a performance that suggested there could be a bit more to come.

Interestingly, two of her biggest potential threats are not guaranteed a run at this stage.

Enduring Love: won the first of two chases this season at Fairyhouse under Joanna Walton in NovemberCredit: Patrick McCann

Enduring Love, who was promoted to first after suffering interference at Limerick nine days ago, is currently the first reserve while recent runaway Leopardstown winner Krisquin is the third in line to get a run at the foot of the reserves.

Dubai Devils, who finished fourth behind the latter three weeks ago, rates a big danger if finding improvement from that effort.

The nine-year-old had been off for 383 days before that promising showing and his trainer Paul Stafford since sent out a 14-1 winner at Thurles on Saturday.

What the stats say

Tipperary-based trainer Willie Austin sent out his first winner under rules in 1981 and is currently operating at his strongest strike-rate in Irish jump races for at least the past 32 seasons.

His homebred Highest Benefit will bid to repeat his victory in this race last year and boost Austin's already impressive 21 per cent strike rate for the 2019-20 season, having saddled six winners from 28 runners.

Highest Benefit: an excellent stalwart for the Willie Austin teamCredit: Patrick McCann

What the trainers say

Paul Stafford, trainer of Dubai Devils
He has to improve from his last run but considering he had been off the track for more than a year beforehand, hopefully he can take a step forward. He's had leg troubles in the past couple of years and is quite fragile so I'm trying to keep things as light as possible for him.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Robin Deuz Pois
She won well at Newcastle and hopefully she can put in another good run in a more competitive race here.

Philip Rothwell, trainer of Enduring Love
He's won two chases for us this season and I'm hoping he can run another big race now. We found a little issue with him previously but got that ironed out before his last start and it made the difference.

Ronan McNally, trainer of The Trigger
Unfortunately he just missed out on getting his head in front at Downpatrick on Sunday and we're turning him out again quickly after he got a 4lb rise from the handicapper. When he hits form he tends to keep running well so hopefully he can finish in the first four, although the ground is probably going to be a major negative for him.

Jimmy Mangan, trainer of Misty Adage
She never runs a bad race and hopefully the blinkers might sharpen her up a small bit. Fingers crossed the ground doesn't dry out too much as she'd ideally want it heavy.

Willie Austin, trainer of Highest Benefit
He's in very good form but our big worry is that he's carrying much more weight than he did when winning this race last year. Hopefully he can still run a big race.

Shane Nolan, trainer of Krisquin
It was fantastic to see him win at Leopardstown last time for his owner, who had shown a lot of patience with him. I'm not sure if the blinkers will work as well the second time around and whether this sort of track will suit him is another question mark. Off his rating we're a little limited as to where we can go with him but we'll let him take his chance if getting in.

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