14:35 Punchestown

Sunday 10 December 2017

All12:3013:0013:3014:0514:3515:0515:40

GAIN Supporting Laois GAA Beginners Chase

Off time: 14:37 | Winning time: 4m 30.10s

Avenir D'Une Vie¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| D

13/2

Outclassed in Graded company in both bumpers/hurdles, but did manage to win in both those disciplines. Hasn't made the best start to his career as a chaser, however, having fallen after finishing a well-beaten sixth.

Form: 516P-6F

Glacial Shadow²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: D Broad

33/1

Placed in a point-to-point but beaten by 50L+ on all attempts under rules so far and looks set for another minor role on his third attempt at fences.

Form: FF28-96

Light That¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| D

9/2

Useful hurdler who out-ran his odds on chasing debut over C&D last time out. Could improve on that to be a serious contender on his second start over the larger obstacles.

Form: 2-P8062

Saturnas³⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| BF| D

7/4

Grade 1 winning novice hurdler last season who disappointed on his last start but his rider reported he made a noise and that effort can be forgiven. The one to beat on debut over fences.

Form: 1210-

Sort It Out^h1¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: E P Harty| C| D

12/1

Did fairly well in handicap hurdles in similar conditions to this, but well-beaten in three starts over fences so far and so needs the application of a first-time hood to have a positive impact.

Form: 04/0-658

Spare Brakes³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R Loughran| T: R Tyner| D

20/1

Wasn't helped by being hampered two out on chasing debut at Thurles last time, but wouldn't have won that race either way and needs to improve on that effort if he is to get involved here.

Form: 858-319

That's A Wrap¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: T Mullins| C| D

25/1

Picked up some good form hurdles but though he was unlucky to be brought down at Navan last time he was well-beaten in two prior chase starts and others are preferred here.

Form: 627-48B

Thirsty Work³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J S McGarvey| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 116| D

12/1

Well-beaten in two starts over fences so far. This looks easier, but it will need to be if he is to have any sort of impact on the race.

Form: 1P0-P97

Dakota Moirette¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| CD

5/1

Won just a maiden as a juvenile hurdler last season but ran a nice race behind Light That on C&D chasing debut last time and given his profile should have plenty of scope to improve on that effort.

Form: 2700-33

Don't Let Go¹¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Ricky Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: C O'Dwyer

10/1

Won the last of her four maiden hurdles at Ballinrobe in August; lightly-raced and an interesting recruit to fences for a top owner.

Form: 00-41

Forecasts

Saturnas (7/4), Light That (9/2), Dakota Moirette (5/1), Avenir D'Une Vie (13/2), Don't Let Go (10/1), Thirsty Work (12/1), Sort It Out (12/1), Spare Brakes (20/1), That's A Wrap (25/1), Glacial Shadow (33/1)

The contender here with the best form over hurdles is, by a very long way SATURNAS. It may be a slightly concern that the six-year-old has been off since performing poorly at Leopardstown in February, but with a Grade 1 win under his belt over the smaller obstacles it's impossible to ignore his claims and he can make a winning debut over fences here. Don't Let Go is lightly raced and was progressive over hurdles and is preferred next, ahead of recent C&D runner-up Light That.