Punting pointers as Great Field puts unbeaten chase record on line in Hilly Way

1.45 Cork
Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase (Grade 2) | 5yo+ | 2m160yds | ATR

PUNTING POINTERS

Mullins the man to beat

Since he won the first running of the race with Our Ben in 2007, the Hilly Way Chase has been totally dominated by Willie Mullins.

Great Field is his sole representative this year and will be attempting to give Ireland's champion trainer his 11th win in the contest, in which his sequence of victories was interrupted by the Henry de Bromhead-trained Days Hotel in 2012.

Golden Silver, a three time winner of the event, Douvan and Un De Sceaux a year ago are among the Mullins-trained winners of the race, and Great Field, unbeaten in five starts over fences, heads the market for this eight-runner edition.

Four from four as a novice, the JP McManus-owned seven-year-old raced only once last season when landing the Grade 2 Webster Cup at Navan in March.

Jody McGarvey, who has ridden him to all his wins over fences, continues his association with the exuberant front-runner.

Tiara has ground doubts

Without a win since landing the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival, Special Tiara makes his first appearance of the season, with Bryan Cooper on board for the first time in five years.

Special Tiara: makes his seasonal reappearanceCredit: Patrick McCann

Cooper rode the Henry de Bromhead-trained 11-year-old to Grade 1 success as a novice at Aintree and, while the veteran chaser is well-treated by the race conditions, he has shown his best form on ground much better than he will encounter here.

Fly likely to improve for outing

Whereas Special Tiara is a specialist two-miler, Anibale Fly, who will also be having his first run of the campaign, has shown he appreciates longer distances.

The Tony Martin-trained inmate won the Paddy Power Handicap Chase over three miles at Leopardstown last year, before finishing third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and fourth in the Grand National, races which are again likely to be on his agenda in 2019.

Elliott double-handed in bid for first win

Gordon Elliott, who has yet to land this event which is named after a dual two-mile champion chaser of the 1970s, is represented by A Toi Phil, who finished fourth in the race a year ago, and Doctor Phoenix, a three-time winner last season.

Doctor Phoenix: bids to provide Gordon Elliott with his first winner of the raceCredit: Patrick McCann

Mark Enright teams up with Doctor Phoenix for the first time while Keith Donoghue partners A Toi Phil, who finished third in the Clonmel Oil Chase on his most recent start last month.

What they say

Gordon Elliott, trainer of A Toi Phil and Doctor Phoenix
A Toi Phil ran well at Clonmel last time and the run should have brought him on, but based on his rating he'll have to improve. He's shown his best form over further. Two miles suits Doctor Phoenix well but he has to improve.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Great Field
He's in good form and ready to start back. The trip and the ground should suit and we're hoping he'll keep his unbeaten record over fences.

Pat Fahy, trainer of Castlegrace Paddy
He's in great form and I think he's straight enough to do himself justice. If he jumps quickly enough – he was a bit sluggish on his final start last season – I'd expect him to be there or thereabouts.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Special Tiara and Three Stars
The ground won't be ideal for Special Tiara, who likes it a lot better. However, he's quite well-treated by the race conditions and it looked a suitable race to start him off in. Three Stars goes on the ground but looks to have it all to do based on ratings.

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