Follow @ToteRacing On Twitter Bobbyjo Chase |
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| Grade 2 Handicap, Fairyhouse 15:25 €37,500 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 1f, Class 1  |
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I Am Maximus spearheads a typically strong Willie Mullins assault on the Bobbyjo Chase , as last year’s Grand National hero looks to follow the same route back to Aintree glory.
Twelve months ago, the JP McManus-owned nine-year-old stormed to a 14-length success in this Grade Three before producing a similarly dominant display at Liverpool. However, he’s yet to catch fire in two runs this season.
Paul Townend keeps the faith with his National winner, but Mullins—who has landed eight of the last nine renewals of this race—suggests Thyestes winner Nick Rockett could be the one to beat.
A tenth win in the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase for @WillieMullinsNH, as Nick Rockett chases down Velvet Elvis at the last, in a thrilling finish 🤯@PTownend | @Goffs1866 pic.twitter.com/nN6CDAz0e0
— Gowran Park (@GowranPark1) January 23, 2025
“Nick Rockett would look the one at the weights,” said Mullins.
“It was a tough call for Paul, but having won the National on I Am Maximus, it’s hard to jump off a horse who goes so well around here. Nick Rockett is well-placed for this, though, and I was very happy with Capodanno’s recent work. Minella Cocooner is in there too—they all have chances, but on paper, Nick Rockett looks the part. That said, I Am Maximus has a real liking for this track.”
Last year, I Am Maximus completed the same double as Bobbyjo himself, following up victory in the Irish Grand National with Aintree success.
Now, Thomas Gibney’s Intense Raffles attempts to do the same, returning to fences for the first time since last Easter’s Fairyhouse triumph, having been kept to hurdles so far this campaign.
Noel Meade runs Affordale Fury, Mouse Morris fields French Dynamite, while William Murphy’s Clonmeen completes the eight taking part in a race with a fine roll of honour.
Bobbyjo Steeplechase
€37,500 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 1f, Class 1
8 runners
Going: Soft, Soft to heavy in places
NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY
1 311-P8 I Am Maximus 9 11-12 W P Mullins Paul Townend
2 408-P4 Capodanno 9 11-8 W P Mullins Mark Walsh
3 702165 French Dynamite 10 11-6 M F Morris Darragh O'Keeffe
4 111-90 Intense Raffles 7 11-3 Thomas Gibney J J Slevin
5 2/15-2 Affordale Fury 7 11-0 Noel Meade Donagh Meyler
6 P-5978 Clonmeen 10 11-0 William P Murphy Simon Torrens
7 31-589 Minella Cocooner 9 11-0 W P Mullins Danny Mullins
8 273-41 Nick Rockett 8 11-0 W P Mullins Brian Hayes
