Expert Analysis

A race with a pretty impressive Roll of Honour, the three most recent winners being Faugheen (ran to a rating of 161), Monkfish (166) and Galopin Des Champs (168), and Mighty Potter looks in their league after what was an emphatic victory over decent opposition. The overall time was decent rather than spectacular (2.0s quicker than recorded by The Goffer carrying 8 lb less in a handicap later on), but pretty impressive given this race was run at a steady pace for some of the way, the finishing speed from 2 out a good deal quicker than par at 108.9%. There should be little doubt that the winner put up a high-class performance by novice standards.

MIGHTY POTTER (c161 here, 159 previously) has made the grade as a novice chaser quickly and emphatically, even better here, if anything, than he had been when beating Gaillard Du Mesnil and Banbridge in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse the time before. He was soon prominent travelling comfortably, disputed the lead 4 out and went on for sure at the second-last, forging clear for pressure on the run-in. It will take a good one to beat him in the Turners at the Cheltenham Festival on this showing, and there looks to be quite a bit more still to come.

ADAMANTLY CHOSEN (c153 here and previously) had achieved a bit more previously than the betting implied, and ran to the same level as when beaten by Gerri Colombe (by half as far) at Limerick over Christmas. Having been held up, he was close up by 4 out and went second between the last 2, unable to match the winner from there. He is a very useful novice, if one with less obvious potential than a few others of which that is true, this trip possibly towards his upper limit.

GAILLARD DU MESNIL (c151 here, 155 previously) ran just respectably, beaten more than twice as far by Mighty Potter as he had been in the Drinmore (since when he had won a weaker 3m race at this track well enough). He led/disputed the lead but at not all that strong a pace, was tapped for toe after 2 out and merely kept on after, slightly hampered at the last. He may need to go back up in trip to run up to his very best rating (excellent third in 29f Irish Grand National last year).

I AM MAXIMUS (c150 here, 144 previously) seemed to run very well, better than anything he has achieved since second to Hillcrest over hurdles when trained in Britain, held up before making headway between the last 2, but only briefly. The fact that he was kept to the inner may be a reflection of some quirks (still a maiden over fences though has been highly tried).

KILCRUIT (c146 here, 151 previously) was a bit below form but best viewed positively on the whole, looking a danger as he closed in going to 2 out but none too fluent there and forced a bit wide, one paced from approaching the last. Handicaps may be an option at this trip or a bit shorter.

JAMES DU BERLAIS (c130 here, 150+ previously) ran better than the result but failed to impress with both his jumping and his finishing effort, still in with a chance between the last 2 then finding nothing. He had looked good the time before after a long lay-off but that was against ordinary rivals.