Dooley Insurance Champion Novice Chase
Grade 1, Punchestown 16:50 €125,000 guaranteed 5yo plus 3m 120y
Tweet Tuesday 28th April 2026

This race provides a natural crescendo to the novice chasing season, and this year’s renewal at Punchestown Racecourse has the look of a contest where quality at the top meets depth throughout.

At the head of affairs sits Final Demand, trading at even money and bringing with him the kind of profile that demands respect. He has done little wrong over fences to date, combining assured jumping with a level of tactical speed that makes him difficult to pressure. The question, as it so often is at this level, is not what he has done, but what lies beneath the surface when fully tested in a race of this intensity.

Kitzbuhel wins the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase 🏆

A brilliant ride by @CobdenHarry for @WillieMullinsNH 👏 pic.twitter.com/CPsTRtF0wa

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 11, 2026

Chief among those looking to expose any vulnerability is Kitzbuhel, a horse who has attracted sustained support and whose upward trajectory suggests there may yet be more to come. He shapes as one who will relish a searching gallop, and if this becomes a true test, his stamina could prove a potent weapon.

The Big Westerner adds further intrigue at slightly bigger odds, bringing a blend of size, scope and staying potential. He may lack the tactical sharpness of the principals, but in a race that could easily turn attritional, his ability to keep finding may bring him into the equation late on.

𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 causes a 22-1 shock in the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ji38DepI8c

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 5, 2026

Just behind that leading trio, Fleur In The Park and Kappa Jy Pyke sit prominently in the market and represent solid, if slightly less exposed, alternatives. Both have shown enough over fences to suggest they belong in this company, and either could take a step forward at the right time.

Soldier In Milan WINS the BOYLE Sports Irish Grand National Chase 🏆

What a performance by Donagh Meyler for Emmet Mullins 👏 pic.twitter.com/fSPcaQZvo2

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 6, 2026

The next wave is headed by Soldier In Milan and Predators Gold, each of whom arrives with credible form but perhaps needing a career best to trouble the very top of the market. Jimmy Du Seuil, Western Fold, Lovely Hurling and Nowwhatdoyouthink form a competitive middle tier, the type of runners who could easily hit the frame if the race unfolds in their favour.

Oscars Brother and Pure Steel are not without ability, though both may need improvement to bridge the gap, while Kala Conti and July Flower would have to take a significant leap forward on what they have shown so far.

Further down, Joystick, Spanish Harlem and Argento Boy complete the field, each arriving as outsiders but with the potential to outrun expectations in a race where the demands of the season can expose even the most solid credentials.

Tactically, much hinges on how aggressively this is run. A strong pace would place the emphasis firmly on jumping accuracy and stamina, areas where Kitzbuhel and The Big Westerner may feel particularly comfortable. Conversely, if it becomes a more tactical affair, Final Demand’s turn of foot and efficiency could prove decisive.

Punchestown often rewards those who arrive here with something left in reserve, and that balance between fitness and freshness will be crucial. The novice chase division has taken shape over the course of the season, but this remains its final examination.

Final Demand sets the benchmark and does so with authority, yet he is unlikely to have matters entirely his own way. Kitzbuhel looms as a serious threat, The Big Westerner offers a different dimension, and the depth beneath ensures this will be no procession. In a race where margins are often fine, it may simply come down to who jumps best when it matters most.

Dooley Insurance Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1)
€125,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 120y, Class 1
19 entries
Going:

Past Results:

* Run at Fairyhouse