20:00 Kilbeggan

Friday 20 July 2018

All17:5518:2518:5519:2520:0020:3021:00

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase

Off time: 20:00 | Winning time: 5m 25.0s

Clara Sorrento¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| BF

5/2

Possibly needed the run on return to the track in a Wexford beginners contest earlier this month. The useful 125-rated hurdler can go well here over the larger obstacles if jumping fluently.

Form: 7/1222-4

Hickey's Rock^t⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: A Ring⁽³⁾| T: M F Morris

66/1

Nothing of note recently and remains an 11-race maiden. Has failed to finish his first two chase starts and is easily dismissed.

Form: PP9P-UP

Oathkeeper³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 119

7/2

Has flattered to deceive with some of his finishing positions but standard of opposition here puts him in the mix.

Form: P69-320

Select Opportunity^h⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: E Cawley

40/1

Has fallen and finished 26L adrift of the winner in two dismal beginners chase starts the latest of which came here last month. Very little to be positive about.

Form: U2F0-05

Sharps Choice¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: N M Kelly⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| C

12/1

Fair hurdler but bombed out on chasing debut at Wexford last month before suffering a 31L defeat when not jumping fluently at Limerick earlier in the month. Needs to improve significantly.

Form: 5150-80

Unicorn^p,t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien

8/1

C&D winner here last August in just his third maiden hurdle start. Well beaten in four handicaps over timber since and is possibly best watched on chasing debut.

Form: 108P-78

Barra^t⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

5/4

140-rated hurdler who looks an exciting prospect for leading trainer and connections over the larger obstacles. Likely to be a warm order on chasing debut.

Form: 342365-

Samantha Bellamy^p1¹⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr L P Gilligan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Cawley

100/1

Lightly raced maiden who was last seen pulling up before four out in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle in January. Unlikely to play a part in the finish despite first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 500/0P-

Forecasts

Barra (5/4), Clara Sorrento (5/2), Oathkeeper (7/2), Unicorn (8/1), Sharps Choice (12/1), Select Opportunity (40/1), Hickey's Rock (66/1), Samantha Bellamy (100/1)

140-rated hurdler BARRA looks an exciting prospect for the Gordon Elliott yard and Gigginstown House Stud over the larger obstacles with the leading trainer appearing to find a nice opening for the seven-year-old to get off the mark at the first time of asking. Clara Sorrento, in the same ownership as the selection could prove the biggest danger here, while Oathkeeper and Sharps Choice can duel for the remaining place.