Top-notch A Plus Tard out to take advantage of good opportunity in Fortria Chase

2.10 Navan
Tote Fortria Chase (Grade 2) | 2m, 5yo+ | RTV

A Plus Tard may have been turned over on his reappearances in the last two seasons, including in this race 12 months ago, but Henry de Bromhead looks to have found the perfect opportunity for him to make a winning comeback in the Tote Fortria Chase.

The top-notch chaser has already achieved plenty for his age, still being only a six-year-old, and is at least 14lb clear of all five rivals in this Grade 2, albeit he must give 11lb on official ratings to Grand Annual runner-up Eclair De Beaufeu.

The Pat Fahy-trained Castlegrace Paddy, a course-and-distance winner of the Webster Cup last time, has won well fresh before and could represent the biggest threat given the testing ground.

A Plus Tard was no match for the bold-jumping Ballyoisin in this race last year, but that exuberant front-runner had the benefit of race fitness and took advantage of A Plus Tard's lack of a run.

There does not look to be the same potential for the 2019 Cheltenham Festival winner to fall into a trap like that this time, holding a class edge over his rivals.

It will possibly be most intriguing to watch whether he shapes as though 2m is his trip or whether mid-range distances are or more his cup of tea.

Pat Fahy on Castlegrace Paddy: 'He won a Grade 2 at the track on his last start in March and it's a lovely place to start him back in a small field'Credit: Alain Barr

What they say

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of A Plus Tard and Ornua
A Plus Tard is in good form at home and we're looking forward to running him. It's his first start this season and he seemed to improve for the run on his first starts back over the past couple of years. We'll see how he gets on here and take it from there. Ornua has been running over the summer and comes here in good form so we're hoping he can run well too.

Pat Fahy, trainer of Castlegrace Paddy
He won a Grade 2 at the track on his last start in March and it's a lovely place to start him back in a small field. It looks a big ask but Bryan [Cooper] has sat on him and is happy about the shape he's in at the moment, although he will improve a bit for the run.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Eclair De Beaufeu
He's a good, solid horse but it looks a hot race. It's his first run of the season and he'll probably come on for it.

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