'The National Hunt Chase is the plan' - can anything follow in the footsteps of Stattler?

Stattler used this Grade 3 as a stepping stone to National Hunt Chase success at Cheltenham and three of this year's field have entries for the same race at the festival, including current second favourite Chemical Energy. 

Only Grade 1 winner Gaillard Du Mesnil is shorter than him in the market for the longest race of the festival with Paddy Power and Boylesports both making the Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old a 9-2 shot. He is only 4-1 with Ladbrokes. 

Chemical Energy has not been seen since demolishing Mahler Mission by 61 lengths at Cheltenham in October, form that has been franked since as the runner-up was an impressive winner of a beginners' chase at Navan last Saturday and is as short as 8-1 himself for the National Hunt Chase. 

Elliott said of Chemical Energy: "He's taken really well to fences and you couldn't really fault what he did at Cheltenham in October. The National Hunt Chase has been the plan since then and it will be nice to get him back on the track. He's in good form at home and this looks a nice place to come."

If Willie Mullins decides to aim Gaillard Du Mesnil at the Brown Advisory, then Ramillies could turn out to be his number one hope for the National Hunt Chase and Patrick Mullins might ride. He is generally an 8-1 chance for that. 

Mullins said: "Ramillies jumps well at home and has always worked well here too, but had been a bit disappointing on the racetrack. He did win on chasing debut at Thurles though, beating Tenzing, and is in good form. He has his chance in what is a classy enough event. If he runs well I’ll be very happy."

Amirite is another potential National Hunt Chase contender and he appeared to be travelling well when Rachael Blackmore was shoved out of the saddle at the 11th fence in the Grade 1 race at Leopardstown over Christmas. He has a progressive profile. 

Thedevilscoachman was by far the best of these over hurdles. Last year's Boyne Hurdle winner at Navan has a rating of 152 in that sphere and he got off the mark over fences at Galway in October when odds-on. 

He was beaten when taking a tired fall in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse but this trip on this ground might just be what the doctor ordered and he remains an unexposed chaser. 

The quintet is completed by the John Berry-trained Francin who has bumped into the talented pair Appreciate It and Flame Bearer on his last two outings. 

Read more:

'It has been amazing' - Magical Mullins reaches 4,000 winners at Fairyhouse 

Fourteen or more Willie Mullins winners at 20-1? I'm having some of that 

Members' Club special offer: 50% off three months 

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday. Not a Members' Club Ultimate subscriber? Click here to join today and also receive our Ultimate Daily emails plus our full range of fantastic website and newspaper content