14:55 Leopardstown

Friday 9 March 2018

All13:2513:5514:2514:5515:3016:0516:3517:10

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase

Off time: 14:57 | Winning time: 4m 29.60s

Ardera Cross⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: E Doyle| BF

14/1

Good effort in winning a beginners chase at Tramore (2m5f, heavy) in December and ran well back over hurdles there subsequently. Dropping in trip today.

Form: 212015

The Irregular^t¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 121| D

10/1

Signs of a possible return to form when finishing third of four at Navan (soft-to-heavy) last time out. Interesting to see how he fares int his contest.

Form: 210003

Alto Esqua³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: D J McInerney⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 118| BF| D

9/2

Heavy ground Listowel winner in September but held since including on handicap debut at Fairyhouse (2m, soft-to-heavy) last time out.

Form: 7/2-1445

Head Turner³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: R Loughran| T: P A Fahy| OR: 117

12/1

Broke her maiden over fences when winning at Fairyhouse (soft-to-heavy) last month. Ground and trip are both in her favour today and she is one for the shortlist today.

Form: 0-64531

Justmemyselfandi^t⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Donagh Meyler| T: Miss E Doyle| C

11/1

Fell on his first two outings over fences and beaten 95L in a small field at Down Royal (heavy) last time. Making his handicap debut following a break.

Form: 160-FF3

Thirsty Work^p1⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Mark Walsh| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 116| BF| C

2/1

Ran well to finish runner-up at Punchestown (soft-to-heavy) in December. Disappointing favourite subsequently and will need to bounce back to figure in this contest.

Form: 975F26

Art Of Synergy^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Moore| T: N Meade

12/1

Kilbeggan maiden hurdle winner on yielding ground last may but struggled over fences including when falling at Fairyhouse (heavy) last time.

Form: 62/9-15F

Crosshue Boy^t⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Slevin| T: S Doyle| OR: 108

10/1

Successful three times over hurdles but remains a maiden over fences and well beaten over fences at Limerick when last in action back in December.

Form: 834506

Fenlon's Hill¹⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: C D Maxwell| T: P Stafford| OR: 110

14/1

Chasing a hat-trick following victories at Galway (soft) and Fairyhouse (good-to-yielding) in the autumn. Those victories both came in handicap company and he has more on his plate today.

Form: 63R211

Monbeg Chit Chat¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 112| BF

8/1

Point-to-point winner and placed over fences at Cork (2m5f, soft-to-heavy) in November. Disappointing the last twice but not written off just yet.

Form: 214-2P7

Soul Kaliber^p,t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 110

16/1

Maiden after ten starts and held off a mark of 110 at Gowran Park (2m, heavy) last time out. Others have a more obvious chance today.

Form: 48-4U64

Forecasts

Thirsty Work (2/1), Alto Esqua (9/2), Monbeg Chit Chat (8/1), Crosshue Boy (10/1), The Irregular (10/1), Justmemyselfandi (11/1), Head Turner (12/1), Art Of Synergy (12/1), Fenlon's Hill (14/1), Ardera Cross (14/1), Soul Kaliber (16/1)

HEAD TURNER, the sole mare in the contest can record her second victory over fences ahving won at Fairyhouse last time out. The selection has performed best when racing on ground with plenty of cut in it and she can take this at the chief expense of Tramore winner Ardera Cross who returns from a break today while Monbeg Chit Chat can put in his best chase performance so far by finishing third.