It's one of the big Irish handicap chases, you know!

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*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

A cracking cast has been assembled for the Kerry National, the biggest race of the 2022 Listowel Harvest Festival.

Hewick is prominent in Paddy Power’s betting for the Kerry National but the Galway Plate winner tops the weights and faces the daunting task of lugging 10lbs more than his nearest rival in the handicap. He’s also bidding to become the first horse to win a handicap chase in Ireland off a mark of 163 or more since 2003.

Joseph Patrick O’Brien, who saddled last year’s winner Assemble, fires six darts at Wednesday’s 16:20 including Busselton, Darasso and Fire Attack. Willie Mullins has El Barra and Recite A Prayer in his squad, while the 2021 Irish Grand National winner Freewheelin Dylan also takes his chance.

The latest Kerry National odds are on the Paddy Power website, otherwise you’ll find Timeform’s handy guide to the runners plus betting tips from the boffins below.

Trainer: John Joseph Hanlon Jockey: Jordan Colin Gainford Age: 7 Weight: 11st 12lbs

Career best when winning 21-runner handicap chase at Galway (22.5f, good, 16/1) 56 days ago by ½ length from Darasso, digging deep. 8 lb rise could be enough to anchor him.

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: P. Townend Age: 8 Weight: 11st 2lbs

1 win from 2 runs this season. 9/2, good 3¾ lengths third of 21 to Hewick in handicap chase at Galway (22.5f, good) 56 days ago. 5 lb better off with that rival now and he has to enter calculations.

Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: M. P. Walsh Age: 9 Weight: 11st 1lbs

Course winner. Good ½-length second of 21 to Hewick in handicap chase at Galway (22.5f, good, 10/1) 56 days ago, just failing. Enjoys a 4 lb pull with the winner here and merits respect for last year’s winning yard (one of five representing Joseph O’Brien).

Trainer: Emmet Mullins Jockey: Donagh Meyler Age: 6 Weight: 11st 0lbs

1/3, bit below form second of 5 in minor event chase at Ballinrobe (17f, good) 30 days ago. Significantly up in trip and improvement needed.

Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: S. D. Torrens Age: 6 Weight: 10st 12lbs

Latest win in chase at Leopardstown in February. Fell in handicap chase (20/1) at Galway (22.5f, good) won by Hewick 56 days ago. Others have achieved more.

Trainer: Matthew J. Smith Jockey: Aidan Coleman Age: 9 Weight: 10st 12lbs

Seventeen runs since last win in 2019. Third of 5 in minor event hurdle at Down Royal (24f, good, 5/2) 26 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase and will be a danger to all if on-song.

Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: L. P. Dempsey Age: 9 Weight: 10st 11lbs

28¾ lengths eighth of 11 to Santa Rossa in Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary (16f, good to soft, 50/1) 83 days ago, inadequate test. Switches from hurdles to chase. Capable of a bold show if in the mood.

Trainer: Gordon Elliott Jockey: M. J. M. O’Sullivan Age: 5 Weight: 10st 8lbs

3 wins from 5 runs this season. Latest win in chase at Kilbeggan in July. Unseated rider in handicap chase (14/1) at Galway (22.5f, good) won by Hewick 56 days ago. Enters calculations.

Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: B. J. Cooper Age: 7 Weight: 10st 7lbs

1 win from 2 runs this season. Latest win in chase at Punchestown in May. 8/1, fell in handicap chase at Galway (22.5f, good) won by Hewick 56 days ago. Can make presence felt.

Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: Rachael Blackmore Age: 7 Weight: 10st 6lbs

1 win from 2 runs this season. 22/1, career best when winning 20-runner handicap chase at Galway (22.5f, good to soft) 54 days ago by 2¼ lengths from Busselton, holding on gamely. This is tougher.

Trainer: Henry de Bromhead Jockey: D. J. O’Keeffe Age: 6 Weight: 10st 6lbs

14/1, bit below form 20 lengths twelfth of 21 to Hewick in handicap chase at Galway (22.5f, good) 56 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time and needs to bounce back.

Trainer: Ronan M. P. McNally Jockey: K. C. Sexton Age: 9 Weight: 10st 6lbs

Creditable fifth of 9 in handicap at Clonmel (16.4f, good to firm, 22/1) 20 days ago. Switches from Flat to chase. Cheekpieces back on. Down to a workable mark and dangerous to discount.

Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: J. J. Slevin Age: 5 Weight: 10st 5lbs

Course winner. Creditable 2¼ lengths second of 20 to Gabbys Cross in handicap chase at Galway (22.5f, good to soft, 7/2) 54 days ago. Blinkers back on and should make his presence felt.

Trainer: Dermot Anthony McLoughlin Jockey: R. A. Doyle Age: 10 Weight: 10st 4lbs

C&D winner. Creditable 9¾ lengths ninth of 20 to Gabbys Cross in handicap chase at Galway (22.5f, good to soft, 33/1) 54 days ago. Looks vulnerable from a win point of view.

Trainer: Joseph Patrick O’Brien Jockey: Sam Ewing Age: 8 Weight: 10st 3lbs

40/1, bit below form eighth of 20 in handicap hurdle at Galway (16f, good) 55 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. This new trip is worth exploring and he needs a second look.

Trainer: Gavin Patrick Cromwell Jockey: Sean Flanagan Age: 8 Weight: 10st 3lbs

Latest win in chase at Thurles in February. Third of 5 in minor event hurdle at Bellewstown (20f, good to firm, 4/6) 29 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Something to find on form.

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: D. E. Mullins Age: 7 Weight: 10st 2lbs

1 win from 3 runs this season. Latest win in chase at Killarney in May. 13/2, tailed-off eleventh of 14 to Hurricane Georgie in handicap chase at Kilbeggan (25f, good to soft) 75 days ago.

Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: Brian Hayes Age: 10 Weight: 10st 0lbs

Promising sort. 3 wins from 5 runs this season. Career best when winning 13-runner handicap chase (11/4) at Killarney (20f, good) 32 days ago. Should improve and will be a big player if he gets a run.

Timeform: Joseph O’Brien saddled the winner of this last year and EARLY DOORS could be the pick of his quintet this time round. The 9-y-o was a fine fifth in the Irish National in April, despite making mistakes five out and at the second-last, and is appealing off the same mark. Cases can be made for each of his four stablemates, with Embittered most interesting of them. Third choice is El Bara, who is taken to reverse Galway placings with Hewick and Darasso, while Ronald Pump also merits respect.

*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

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