16:35 Galway

Tuesday 10 October 2017

All14:2515:0015:3016:0016:3517:0517:35

GalwayRaces.com Beginners Chase

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 4m 58.90s

Bel Ami De Sivola^h1¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| BF

3/1

16½L third in his chasing debut last time slightly disappointing as 6/4 fav but winner very impressive. Won a couple of hurdles before finding Grade One company too hot. Contender here back in trip.

Form: 15P8-23

Calino D'Airy¹⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Cooper| T: H De Bromhead

14/1

Fell when last seen over hurdles in April. Raced exclusively over 2m so far but a 3m point-to-point winner so extra 2f no issue on chasing debut. Maiden hurdle win not as strong as some rivals form but represents top connections.

Form: 1716F-

Close Shave²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: Mrs J Harrington

16/1

Bit to find with best of these on hurdles form and beaten 34L into 7th on chase debut here four weeks ago. Should have learnt a bit there but lots to find to feature today.

Form: 06418-7

Damut¹²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: Joseph Dullea| OR: 127

10/1

Unplaced in eight career starts over fences but has some smart form albeit he isn't the most consistent. Pulled up when stepped up dramatically in trip last time out in June. This distance more to his liking.

Form: 6445-0P

Kilfenora¹⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: M A Enright| T: E P Harty

14/1

Showed little in first three hurdles before bolting up at 50/1. Best effort over timber arguably his last when fourth of 17 in a competitive handicap at Fairyhouse. Looks toward the bottom of the pecking order here in McManus' quintet.

Form: 990174-

Le Curieux²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: J E Kiely

33/1

Set stiff tasks and big prices accordingly in three starts after leaving France over hurdles. 16½L 5th on chasing debut no disgrace but significant improvement required to win this.

Form: 340/6-05

Little Haarth¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: G N Fox| T: D McDonogh

33/1

Experienced campaigner was third on chase debut at Downpatrick before a well beaten fourth at Navan last time (Bel Ami De Sivola third). Looks likely to want further so step back in trip far from ideal.

Form: 844034

Midnight Escape¹⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| BF

6/4

Won a 24 runner maiden hurdle before disappointing slightly when fifth of seven upped to 3m (6/4 fav). Makes chase debut here and falls into the 'could be anything' bracket for trainer who won this race last year.

Form: 13315-

Minella Till Dawn¹⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott

9/2

Promising novice hurdle campaign ended in disappointment when pulled up three weeks after falling at the last when upsides. If confidence is restored after the layoff he could run well on chase debut for trainer who won this race last year.

Form: 1/213FP-

Time And Times⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: A E Lynch| T: D McNamara

100/1

Beaten 61L and 100L in two chase starts to date. Hurdles form relatively moderate so no reason to suggest improvement here.

Form: 0F17-70

Uaintseenothingyet⁵⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: E P Harty| BF

33/1

Lone hurdles win came in a 2m4f maiden at Fairyhouse. Disappointed when last seen as favourite in February 2016 and lack of run since suggests something amiss that day. Others make more appeal.

Form: 0319/

Weather Watch^p,t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

50/1

Beaten 87L on chase debut back in July. Returned on the level in Ulster Cesarewitch when beaten 46L last month over 2m2f. One of the lowest rated hurdlers also so little to recommend despite connections.

Form: 37-6870

Colette's Choice^p,t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R T Dunne| T: S J Mahon

66/1

86 rated maiden over hurdles and beaten 43L on chasing debut over C&D. Nothing to suggest she is capable of playing a significant part.

Form: 002509

Pursecco^h¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs P Dobbs

66/1

100 rated hurdler whose lone success came in a poor Ballinrobe maiden. Tough to fancy on chase debut for trainer without a winner yet this season.

Form: 0-00306

Forecasts

Midnight Escape (6/4), Bel Ami De Sivola (3/1), Minella Till Dawn (9/2), Damut (10/1), Calino D'Airy (14/1), Kilfenora (14/1), Close Shave (16/1), Uaintseenothingyet (33/1), Little Haarth (33/1), Le Curieux (33/1), Weather Watch (50/1), Colette's Choice (66/1), Pursecco (66/1), Time And Times (100/1)

Experience often counts in novice chases so BEL AMI DE SIVOLA gets the nod despite disappointing in his chasing debut. He was the only one to seriously threaten the impressive winner that day and ultimately it cost him second late on. Among the best of these over hurdles also, Noel Meade's charge has the strongest credentials. Gordon Elliott saddles the useful Diamond King to win this last season and he has two interesting runners here. Of the duo unexposed Midnight Escape makes the most appeal. Damut has pieces of form over fences that would put him right in the mix so can't be dismissed.