'She's in great form and staying trips suit' - Mousey Brown out to enhance Irish National credentials

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In a difficult novice handicap chase to solve, it might pay to side with the Dermot McLoughlin-trained Mousey Brown after her excellent prep at Punchestown last month when second to the smart Jade De Grugy over hurdles.

A winner of two handicap chases last season, the eight-year-old went off 5-1 for the Midlands National at Kilbeggan but her effort petered out after a mistake two out and she wasn't seen for seven months before her Punchestown return.

It was a very promising effort given she finished six lengths behind a mare who chased home Lossiemouth in the Mares' Hurdle last week and she had the 136-rated Gaoth Chuil three lengths behind in third.

Given she won over 3m on heavy ground over hurdles at Fairyhouse last season, this trip shouldn't be an issue and she looks well handicapped off a mark of 131.

Verdant Place has found a rich vein of form this season, landing two of his last three starts, including twice at this track. He's a strong stayer over this trip and had the reopposing Prince Palace four lengths behind when winning on his last start, while that rival went on to win the Nas Na Riogh here earlier this month. If the forecast rain arrives, he has as good a chance as any.

Prince Palace was impressive last time as well and an 8lb rise for his latest success is fair. He hit the line hard over course and distance on his penultimate start after his effort initially flattened out a bit so he should be thereabouts.

Hillsdale is going for a hat-trick and is climbing rapidly in the weights, but this represents a big step up in trip, while Banjaxed is worth noting for the Lorna Fowler stable after he landed a beginners' chase at Cork and chased home Noble Birth at Fairyhouse. He had Verdant Place behind him on that occasion and is 2lb better off with him now.

What they say

Dermot McLoughlin, trainer of Mousey Brown
We were very happy with her run at Punchestown and the form stood up well at Cheltenham. We're going back over fences now and she's been in great form since, while staying trips suit her on this type of ground. We're hoping for the best and for all the rain forecast. Long-term, we're hoping to run her in the Irish National so we'll see how she gets on in this first.

Lorna Fowler, trainer of Banjaxed
He's in great form and I think he'll like the ground. There's a lot of collateral form in the race and he's been improving nicely over fences and it was a good run at Fairyhouse last time. He's been good since and we're hoping he'll continue on that upward trajectory.

Lorna Fowler: runs BanjaxedCredit: Patrick McCann

Pat Foley, trainer of Verdant Place
He's in good form and Navan seems to see the best of him. If it was any other track we mightn't have declared him with the ground the way it is, but I'm hoping the rain that's forecast comes. Soft ground is what we'd be looking for.

Philip Dempsey, trainer of Hillsdale
He was good at Clonmel and Naas the last twice and he's gone up 22lb so he'll have to improve a good bit again. He's taking a big step up in trip but we're hoping he'll be okay over it.

Pat Fahy, trainer of Prince Palace
It was a good performance at the track over two and a half the last day. I'm hoping we'll get the rain promised. I'm not sure whether the step up in trip will suit him but I always thought he'd be a staying chaser. It might have looked like he didn't get the trip two starts ago but he stayed on well from the back of the last so it's definitely worth trying again.

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