Timeform View: Dr P.J. Moriarty Novice's Chase

Ante-post / Timeform / 05 February 2010 / Leave a comment

Weapon's Amnesty winning at the 2009 Cheltenham Festival

With a host of top-class action at Leopardstown on Sunday, our Irish form expert Martin Rigg casts his eye over the 8-strong field set to line up for this twenty-one furlong Grade 1 contest.

"Roberto Goldback was impressive when winning a Grade 2 on heavy ground over course and distance last time"

It looks a strong renewal, with last season's Albert Bartlett winner Weapon's Amnesty vying for favouritism with the progresive Roberto Goldback .
Weapon's Amnesty appeals as the one runner in the field who could be a serious contender for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham. However, he seemed to need every yard of three miles when short-headed by Pandorama in the Knight Frank at Leopardstown, and made a series of minor mistakes that day, a repeat of which could prove more costly at a shorter trip.
Preference, therefore, is for Roberto Goldback, who was impressive when winning a Grade 2 on heavy ground over course and distance last time, travelling and jumping fluently and on the bridle until the last fence before staying on to beat Apt Approach by six lengths.
Zaarito is another serious contender, having been beaten only a neck by Captain Cee Bee in a maiden at Naas in March and an easy winner of a similar event at Leopardstown next time. He's bred to stay this longer trip but hasn't got a great deal of physical scope and it's a worry that he has fallen either side of the aforementioned runs, including early on in the Irish Arkle when last seen.
Willie Mullins, successful in the last two renewals with J'y Vole then Cooldine, has a couple of contenders in the shape of Citizen Vic and Cousin Vinny. The last named had the Deloitte Novice Hurdle in the bag on this card last year only to unseat at the last, but hasn't progressed as expected, beaten four lengths by Roberto Goldback at Navan on the first of two runs in maiden chases.
It wouldn't be the biggest surprise to see Citizen Vic go well at a price. He's a strapping son of Old Vic and his jumping looked a real asset when he made all to beat Corskeagh Royale in a maiden at Punchestown in January, form which would have been boosted had that one not departed two out when in front at Down Royal earlier this week.
Of the remaining entries, Lenabane looks held by Weapon's Amnesty on Knight Frank form; Oscar Looby won a weakly-contested Grade 2 at Naas last time and could struggle on a line through Dancing Tornado; while Aranleigh seems hard to train and the form of his hard-fought Grade 3 win at Punchestown in November is nothing special.