Hook Beginners Chase 2m 3f
- (4yo+, 2m 3f, 7 runners)
- Winner €5,520 2nd €1,280 3rd €560 4th €320
- Going: Soft to Heavy, Heavy in places
- Surface: Turf
Print| Pos | Horse | Distance/th> | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3 Thouva | 13/8f | |
| 2nd | 1 King Of The Refs | 5 | 2/1 |
Racecard
| # | Form | Horse | A | Wgt | Trainer | Jockey | OR | Naps | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 333P-92 |
|
7 | 166 11-12 | A J Martin | B J Geraghty | 116 | 2/1 | |
| 2 | 776077- |
|
8 | 166 11-12 | R K Watson | T P Treacy | 33/1 | ||
| 3 | 22137-3 |
|
5 | 166 11-12 | N Meade | D N Russell | 13/8f | ||
| 4 | 08F264 |
|
5 | 166 11-12 p | R O'Leary | D J Casey | 7/1 | ||
| 5 | 117-615 |
|
7 | 159 11-5 | R H Lalor | Mr J R Lalor (7) | 10/1 | ||
| 6 | R64878 |
|
7 | 159 11-5 t | R O'Connor | MR C L Murphy (7) | 33/1 | ||
| 7 | 232367 |
|
4 | 155 11-1 t | N Meade | P Carberry | 11/2 |
In depth
Verdict
Noel Meade complicates matters by saddling Westhaven and THOUVA and though Paul Carberry is on board the former it's Davy Russell's mount, who was fancied to make a winning start over fences here in October but was impeded at a crucial stage, who looks the one to be on. Winning point-to-pointer Western Man makes his debut over regulation fences but his hurdling form was moderate so it's King Of The Refs who looks more of a threat as he ran some fair races in decent company over hurdles and will be better for the experience of his two chase runs to date.
Formwatch
Thouva (FR) 11-10fav (11-11) Led and disuputed lead, hampered by loose horse 6th, headed 4 out and dropped to 5th, went 3rd entering straight but no impression from before last where not fluent, kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 6l behind Klepht (11-12) at Wexford 2m 3f beg chs gd in Oct.
King Of The Refs (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Prominent in chasing group, closer in 2nd 4 out, challenged under pressure and briefly on terms before last, soon no chance with easy winner, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Twigline (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Nov.
Dante Anna (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, lost place 4 out, soon no impression, kept on one pace from before straight, 8th of 17, 23l behind Carries Darling (11-7) at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn hdl in Nov.
Clonbeale Vacation (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Prominent and led before 2nd, headed 5th, tracked leaders until dropped to 6th 4 out, left 5th next but no impression entering straight, kept on one pace, 5th of 12, 30l behind Make A Track (11-12) at Thurles 2m 6f beg chs hvy in Nov.
Western Man (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Mid-division, 7th halfway, headway into 4th approaching straight, no impression from 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 14, 10l behind Happy New Year (11-6) at Limerick 2m 5f am hcp hdle 80-95 hvy in Nov.
Westhaven (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Soon mid-division, 7th 5 out, no impression next, moderate 6th into straight, kept on same pace, 7th of 13, well behind Snooze (11-9) at Cork 2m 5f beg chs sft in Nov.
Lord Rudi (IRE) 28-1 (10-13) Led and clear early, headed 6th until regained lead 5 out, headed approaching 3 out and soon no extra, no threat in straight, 7th of 9, 36l behind Galant Ferns (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 6f hcp hdl 8Evens16 sft in Jan.