15:25 Fairyhouse

Sunday 16 April 2017

All13:4514:2014:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

BoyleSports Novice Handicap Chase (Grade B)

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 4m 10.30s

Don't Touch It⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 143

6/4

Scored in a beginners' event at Thurles over 2m in February and since run a respectable second behind the impressive Great Field at Leopardstown. Big player on handicap debut.

Form: 133122

Three Stars³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: D J Mullins| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 141

8/1

Two wins from first five starts over fences, highly-tried in Grade One company since, including in last month's Arkle. Capable of bouncing back in these calmer waters and running well.

Form: 8-51133

Hurricane Ben^t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: D N Russell| T: J G Sheehan| OR: 136

8/1

Will have plenty to find with Don't Touch It based on runner-up finish behind Great Field at Thurles 22 days ago.

Form: 424214-

Neverushacon¹⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: M J Bolger| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 133

16/1

An inconsistent sort, has been off since poor Cheltenham run in October but previous Gowran Park run over 2m would make him noteworthy in this for handicap debut.

Form: U52443-

Prickly¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: A E Lynch| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 129

7/1

Has hit the frame on all three chase starts, scoring here over 2m in a novice event in November on second of those. Ran well at Limerick last month only start since and can go well again off 3lb higher mark.

Form: 36312P-

Elusive Ivy⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Paul Townend| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 124

11/2

Career-best effort when winning Leopardstown handicap over 2m1f in January. Raised 4lb for narrow success, entitled to be further improvement on fourth chase start.

Form: 06F213

Catalaunian Fields^p⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Donagh Meyler⁽³⁾| T: M F Morris| OR: 121

8/1

Ran well here over 2m4f in January though has since run poorly at Naas over that trip at this level. Drops back in distance but has it all to prove at the moment.

Form: 5P127P-

Lip Service^h¹⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: D F O'Regan| T: A J Martin| OR: 120

10/1

Easy scorer on chase bow at Tramore in October and almost followed up over 2m4f at Clonmel later the same month. Off since, represents shrewd yard and is one to note in the betting for this handicap chase bow.

Form: 532/126-

Non-Runners

Third Opinion²⁶

Weight: 10-3| Age: 9

T: G Elliott J: B J Cooper

Cassells Rock¹¹¹

Weight: 10-3| Age: 7

T: A J Martin J: Sean Flanagan

Forecasts

Don't Touch It (6/4), Third Opinion (9/2), Elusive Ivy (11/2), Prickly (7/1), Hurricane Ben (8/1), Three Stars (8/1), Catalaunian Fields (8/1), Lip Service (10/1), Neverushacon (16/1), Cassells Rock (25/1)

DON'T TOUCH IT shoulders top weight for this handicap debut but it may be merited. He won nicely at Thurles in February over fences and his second-place finish behind Great Field since is not viewed as a negative given that rival has scored again since and looks plenty talented. A Grade One winner over timber, the selection should hold these on talent and can take the prize. Three Stars is also interesting having been severely tested at the top level in his two most recent starts while Prickly is likely to maintain his record of hitting the frame in each of his chase runs to date. Third Opinion defied a long absence when winning at Clonmel recently and Gordon Elliott's charge is in the mix here.