Desertmore House is set to face a maximum 17 rivals in his bid to win the Kerry National for the second year in a row on day four of the Harvest Festival at Listowel.
The Martin Brassil-trained gelding scooted to a 3¾l victory in last season’s renewal to cap off a busy summer programme, although a 213-day break means the reigning champ will attempt to defend his crown without a recent run in the tank.
Desertmore House is not the only previous winner in the line up as 2022 hero Busselton reverts to the larger obstacles after a string of runs on the level over the summer.
The pair are not among Paddy Power’s favourites for the Kerry National as a stack of big guns take aim at the top of the betting market including dual Cheltenham Festival winner Flooring Porter and 2023 Brown Advisory scorer The Real Whacker.
The Galway Plate form will be put to the test as the second (Duffle Coat), third (Zanahiyr), fifth (Chemical Energy), seventh (Hurricane Georgie), eighth (Perceval Legallois) and ninth (Amirite) are in the field for Wednesday’s 16:20.
The latest Kerry National odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Kerry National verdict
Timeform: Gavin Cromwell looks to hold a strong hand in this year’s Kerry National, with PERCEVAL LEGALLOIS taken to make up for his Galway Plate defeat and confirm the significant promise of his first 2 attempts in handicap chases. Stablemate Flooring Porter has obvious scope from a mark in the 140s on hurdle ability and should find this test much more suitable than the 17f he tackled in his previous handicap chase. Solitary Man and Gordon Elliott pair Zanahiyr and Chemical Energy are also shortlisted.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Kerry National 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Kerry National 2024.
Fakir d’Oudairies
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien Jockey: J.J. Slevin Age: 9 Weight: 11st 12lbs
Nine wins from 27 NH runs. 11/1, bit below form tenth of 25 in handicap chase at Leopardstown (21.5f, soft) when last seen in February. Off 7 months. Tongue strap on 1st time. Yard has a good recent record in this but Mark Walsh looks elsewhere.
***
The Real Whacker
Trainer: Patrick Neville Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
Winner of the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. Came up short at the top level last season but may find life a bit easier attempting to give weight to lesser rivals back in a handicap.
***
Flooring Porter
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell Jockey: Keith Donoghue Age: 9 Weight: 11st 4lbs
Dual staying hurdle winner at Cheltenham and second in this year’s renewal. Hasn’t quite translated that ability to fences but he did win a 3m Cheltenham novice last autumn. Didn’t feature in a 17f Killarney handicap chase in July but better can be expected back over a more suitable trip.
****
Zanahiyr
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: J. W. Kennedy Age: 7 Weight: 11st 4lbs
Latest win in chase at Thurles in February. Second of 4 in minor event chase at Tramore (21.8f, good to soft, 8/15) 40 days ago. The mount of Jack Kennedy from the Gordon Elliott contingent. Respected.
****
Chemical Energy
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Jordan Gainford Age: 8 Weight: 11st 1lbs
Course winner. Six wins from 17 NH runs. 33/1, creditable fifth of 22 in Galway Plate (22.5f, good to soft) 56 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Not taken lightly.
****
Churchstonewarrior
Trainer: Cian Michael Collins Jockey: C. Stone-Walsh Age: 9 Weight: 11st 1lbs
First run since leaving Jonathan Sweeney when third of 4 in minor event chase at Tramore (21.8f, good to soft, 11/1) 40 days ago. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.
**
Duffle Coat
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: D. J. Gilligan Age: 7 Weight: 11st 0lbs
Latest win in chase at Ballinrobe in May. 25/1, good second of 22 in Galway Plate (22.5f, good to soft) 56 days ago.
***
Desertmore House
Trainer: Martin Brassil Jockey: R. A. Doyle Age: 9 Weight: 10st 13lbs
Won this 12 months ago. 5/1, creditable third of 14 in handicap hurdle at Naas (22.7f, heavy) in February. Off since. Has a 9 lb higher mark than last year so he’ll need a big career best to follow up.
***
Amirite
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: D. J. O’Keeffe Age: 8 Weight: 10st 12lbs
12/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, respectable ninth of 22 in Galway Plate (22.5f, good to soft) 56 days ago, doing too much too soon. Needs a couple of these to falter.
**
Busselton
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien Jockey: Richard Deegan Age: 7 Weight: 10st 12lbs
The 2022 Kerry National winner and arrives fit from the Flat, winning a 2m handicap at the Galway Festival in July. Only 1 lb above the mark he defied 2 years ago.
***
Solitary Man
Trainer: Enda Bolger Jockey: Mr D. O’Connor Age: 6 Weight: 10st 12lbs
2 wins from 4 runs this season. 7/4, good second of 6 in novice chase at Killarney (23.4f, good to soft) 32 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Makes handicap chase debut. Enters calculations.
****
Lucid Dreams
Trainer: John Patrick Ryan Jockey: D. E. Mullins Age: 9 Weight: 10st 11lbs
Six wins from 20 NH runs. 3/1, 14 lengths last of 2 to Asterion Forlonge in Imperial Call Chase at Cork (24f, heavy) 178 days ago. Must improve.
**
Perceval Levallois
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell Jockey: M. P. Walsh Age: 7 Weight: 10st 11lbs
Second in a big-field handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival. Rather let down by his jumping in the Galway Plate but continues to looks well handicapped on the Punchestown form and given another chance.
*****
The Goffer
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: Sam Ewing Age: 7 Weight: 10st 11lbs
15/2, pulled up in handicap chase at Punchestown (20.4f, good to soft) 147 days ago, labouring long way out.
**
Horantzau D’airy
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: P. Townend Age: 7 Weight: 10st 10lbs
Latest win in chase at Clonmel in April. 3/1, running well fell in novice chase at Killarney (23.4f, good to soft) 32 days ago. Unexposed handicap chase newcomer from the Willie Mullins yard so has to enter the reckoning.
****
Hurricane Georgie
Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: K. C. Sexton Age: 7 Weight: 10st 10lbs
2 wins from 5 runs this season. Won 7-runner minor event chase at Galway (22.5f, soft, 4/1) 52 days ago, well on top finish. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Kennedy looks elsewhere this time.
***
Embittered
Trainer: Eric McNamara Jockey: D. King Age: 10 Weight: 10st 7lbs
50/1, respectable sixth of 17 in handicap chase at Punchestown (20.4f, good to soft) 147 days ago. First run for yard after leaving Gordon Elliott. Something to find on form.
**
Toss Again
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: M. P. O’Connor Age: 7 Weight: 10st 6lbs
10/1, pulled up in Galway Plate (22.5f, good to soft) 56 days ago, weakening when mistake 3 out. Stable in good form but others are still preferred.
**
Falco Blitz
Trainer: Eric McNamara Jockey: Reserve Age: 10 Weight: 10st 5lbs
Thirteenth of 13 in handicap hurdle (33/1) at Killarney (22.4f, good to soft) 32 days ago (sixth past the post but subsequently disqualified). Switches from hurdles to chase.
Reserve.
**
Thecompanysergeant
Trainer: Denis Hogan Jockey: Reserve Age: 7 Weight: 10st 5lbs
1 win from 3 runs this season. 6/4, didn’t need to improve to win 7-runner novice chase at Galway (18.2f, good) 57 days ago, driven out. Significantly up in trip. Makes handicap chase debut.
Reserve.
***
Real Steel
Trainer: Eric McNamara Jockey: Reserve Age: 11 Weight: 10st 3lbs
Bit below form sixth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Killarney (22.4f, good to soft, 28/1) 32 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Cheekpieces back on.
Reserve.
**
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