12:30 Thurles

Sunday 17 December 2017

All12:3013:0013:3514:1014:4015:1015:45

Jim Murphy Contract Fence Builder Irish EBF Beginners Chase

Off time: 12:32 | Winning time: 4m 43.90s

Fire In His Eyes^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott

7/2

Winner of two hurdles for this yard and finished a respectable 22L third on his second start over this C&D on his second chase start last time out. One to note in this contest.

Form: 11P5-43

Jamesmicheal³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: E O'Connell⁽⁷⁾| T: J Brassil

100/1

Roscommon maiden hurdle winner over 2m4f on good ground in September 2014 but had just five starts since and has finished well beaten in all four outings this term. More needed today.

Form: 18/0000

Kopookris²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: L P Cusack

20/1

Good effort to finish fourth in a Leopardstown maiden hurdle on heavy ground in March but not built on that since and well held on both chase outings last month.

Form: 745-88

Koshari⁴⁰⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF

8/11

Winner over hurdles in France and at Punchestown (2m, yielding). Absent since disappointing in a Grade 3 novice hurdle 13 months ago but represents a leading yard today and is one for the shortlist on chase debut.

Form: 51/14-

Lough Derg Lyric¹¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: John J Fitzpatrick⁽⁷⁾| T: P Coffey

66/1

Failed to trouble the judge in seven outings to date most recently off a mark of 85 in a Tramore handicap hurdle in August. Probably best watched on chase debut.

Form: 00-P900

Tobar Geal¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: L P Cusack

66/1

Well beaten in five starts for David O'Brien and a similar result in three outings for this stable. Finished well behind Fire In His Eyes on last months chasing debut.

Form: 090-P00

Veneziano Springs¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D E Splaine| T: T O'Brien

33/1

Placed in a maiden hurdle on heavy ground but generally held in maiden hurdle contests and finished well behind Fire In His Eyes on his chasing debut recently.

Form: 394-669

Wishmoor^t,v1⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: M F Morris

11/4

Heavy ground maiden hurdle winner over 2m4f at Leopardstown in March and put in a fair effort in a Grade 2 novice contest subsequently. Disappointed on chasing debut in October and wears a visor for the first time today.

Form: 53615-5

Caoimhe Diva^h1¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Phillip Enright| T: D Howard

66/1

Placed in a point-to-point but no show over hurdles subsequently including in a handicap contest at Ballinrobe in September. Wears a hood for the first time on chase debut.

Form: 0FP-807

Forecasts

Koshari (8/11), Wishmoor (11/4), Fire In His Eyes (7/2), Kopookris (20/1), Veneziano Springs (33/1), Tobar Geal (66/1), Caoimhe Diva (66/1), Lough Derg Lyric (66/1), Jamesmicheal (100/1)

The returning KOSHARI can make a winning chase debut following a 13 month absence in this opening contest. The selection proved a disappointment on his second and final outing for Willie Mullins last season but is sure to be primed for his return to action and he can see off Fire In His Eyes who put in a respectable effort here last time out with Wishmoor, who wears a visor for the first time today taken to claim third.