Killarney

At 13 years old this horse is the oldest in the field, yet it arrives here on the back of three consecutive top-three finishes — win, second, third — which is as sharp a recent sequence as any runner here. The win came only 34 days ago at Downpatrick, so the form is very fresh. At 12-1 this is arguably the most interesting long-shot in the race purely on current momentum.

A half-length second at Listowel 46 days ago is easily the most interesting piece of recent form — this horse ran a race right to the line and was only just denied. With just one win from 18 career races, it has taken a long time to find its level, but that near-miss suggests confidence is up. At 11-1 in a big field, the recent second makes this an honest each-way option.

Twelve races, no wins, and only one placed finish — the youngest horse in the field at five years old has time on its side but the current form offers little encouragement, with a sixth and a fifth in its two most recent completed runs. There is a long way to go before this one starts troubling the places in a competitive 18-runner chase. One for the future rather than today.

Our top-rated horse by a clear margin, and one of only a handful of course winners in this field of eighteen — but at 11 years old and with a win rate of roughly 1 in every 15 races, he needs everything to go right. A much-improved third last time out at Kilbeggan is genuinely encouraging, but his record on anything other than fast ground is poor: no wins from 18 races on wet or soft ground, which is a real concern depending on conditions at Killarney. A 47-day absence adds a small fitness doubt to an otherwise interesting each-way case.

Thirty-four races and still no win, yet this nine-year-old is arriving here on the back of a second place beaten half a length at Downpatrick and a third at Wexford — as good a recent run of form as almost anyone in this field. The frustrating thing is that it has been here before: seven career placed finishes and always the bridesmaid. At 11-1 the place market is where the interest lies.

Seventeen days since its last run and three consecutive top-five finishes suggest this seven-year-old is ticking over reasonably well, though beaten distances of 18, 30 and 17 lengths in those runs tell you it is not finishing anywhere near the front. Two wins from 21 races is a modest return of roughly 1 in every 10, and at 15-1 it sits in the middle of the market without an obvious angle. Hard to make a strong case here.

Six races in, zero wins, zero placed finishes — the record is as bare as it gets. The form figures listed as 'placed in 2 of last 3' in the standout markers do not match the actual data, which shows an 11th and two fourths beaten by wide margins. At 23-1 with no obvious upside from the form book, this is one of the harder horses in the field to recommend.

Rated 12lbs below the field average, the lowest-rated horse in the race, and the recent form of 10th and 5th beaten by huge distances is not encouraging. At 12 years old and a 67-1 shot, this horse is essentially here to make up the numbers in a maximum field. Honest assessment: very hard to make a case.

Ten races into its career and still waiting for a first win — though seven placed finishes show it is competitive enough to keep racing. The market has drifted from 17-1 out to 19-1, which suggests punters are not rushing to back it, and the recent form figures are incomplete, making it hard to build a case. One for those who believe a breakthrough is coming eventually, but the evidence is thin.

Carries the lowest weight in the field, which in theory is an advantage in a handicap, but the form figures — eighth, 11th, 15th, 12th and ninth in recent runs — make it very difficult to build any kind of case. No wins from 12 races and recent efforts well beaten, so the light weight is about all there is to say. A 51-1 outsider for good reason.

The longest absence of any horse in the field at 98 days since last racing, and that last run ended in a third place beaten over 32 lengths at Sedgefield — so there is a real fitness question coming back after more than three months off. Shortened in from 7.5-1 to 7-1 despite that break, which suggests the trainer is confident. Only 7 career races means this is still a relatively unknown quantity, but the fitness concern is significant in an 18-runner chase.

Priced at 9.5-1 which puts it among the more fancied runners, but the most recent outing ended in an unseating at Kilbeggan 32 days ago — not ideal preparation for a big-field chase. Before that, a second at Kelso showed it can run a decent race, and its record on fast ground is solid. The reserve jockey booking adds an unknown into the mix, making this harder to assess than the odds might suggest.

An eighth-year-old with no wins from 11 races and a most recent effort of 12th beaten 64 lengths at Sligo — there is very little here to work with. Three career placed finishes suggest it has had its moments, but recent evidence points firmly in the wrong direction. At 29-1 and with a reserve jockey booked, this one is for the most optimistic of supporters only.