La Touche Restaurant Novice Chase

Off time: 18:15 | Winning time: 4m 6.80s

Balbir Du Mathan^p,t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: D F O'Regan| T: S J Mahon| OR: 126| D

20/1

Just the one win in 14 attempts over fences, coming at Limerick (2m1½f, heavy) on penultimate start when longs odds-on. Came up short in strong handicap chase over this C&D since, this is a more presentable opportunity.

Form: 123210-

Peace News^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| D

14/1

Didn't do everything right but made a winning start over fences in beginners' contest at Down Royal (2m3½f, good) nine days ago. Down in trip and likely to build on that now. Very much a player here.

Form: 544/20-1

Robin Des Foret¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| D

8/11

Rated 142 over hurdles and made seamless transition to chasing with 17L win at Ballinrobe (2m1f, heavy) 15 days ago for the champion trainer. Likely to take some halting.

Form: 12112-1

Screaming Colours²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R Loughran| T: W Durkan

20/1

Caused an 80/1 shock when beating De Plotting Shed to win Fairyhouse beginners' chase last month over this sort of trip on soft to heavy. That was at great odds with previous efforts under rules, not certain to reproduce.

Form: 2/12761-

Light That^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 128| D

10/3

Some promise shown in three chase starts last season, including over C&D, returned to action with 3L third of 24 her over hurdles in valuable handicap last month. Should give a good account but plenty to find seemingly on best hurdles form.

Form: 062433-

Roconga⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Mark Walsh| T: E J O'Grady| OR: 129| D

13/2

Placed five times in six chase starts last summer before falling early on at Listowel on final outing. Pulled up last month on return to action over hurdles, may be straighter now but likely to make frame at best again.

Form: 2422FP-

Forecasts

Robin Des Foret (8/11), Light That (10/3), Roconga (13/2), Peace News (14/1), Screaming Colours (20/1), Balbir Du Mathan (20/1)

ROBIN DES FORET made a fairly seamless introduction to chasing at Ballinrobe recently and should have learned plenty while doing so. He'd have an advantage on these rivals on their hurdles form and looks likely to make up into a decent chaser for Willie Mullins. Peace News didn't get things spot on in his chasing debut at Down Royal but came out with a victory just the same. He should go well, as will Balbir Du Mathan in this less taxing environment. Screaming Colours was a shock winner last time and may not build on it while Roconga is capable of getting involved if fitter from his hurdles spin at Cork.