12:15 Fairyhouse

Saturday 1 December 2018

All12:1512:5013:2513:5514:3015:0515:40

Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Beginners Chase

Off time: 12:15 | Winning time: 5m 24.50s

Agent Boru²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J M Moore| T: T Gibney| C

11/1

Useful 127-rated handicap hurdler finished fourth of 18 on promising chasing debut at Naas over 2m3f on yielding ground last month. Open to improvement.

Form: 58010-4

Any Second Now²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: T M Walsh| OR: 143| BF

5/2

Handy 142-rated hurdler but is without success in six chase starts to date. Finished 1L adrift of Agent Boru last time out at Naas and unlikely to reverse places here.

Form: 22238-5

Art Of Security^t⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: N P Madden| T: N Meade

40/1

Possibly overrated 131 handicap hurdler unseated rider at the first on chasing debut in a Navan beginners contest on Sunday when sent off at 16/1. Looks vulnerable in this company.

Form: 050-16U

Cherokee Bill¹⁷

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

20/1

Best effort over hurdles when third in a heavy-ground maiden at Fairyhouse over 2m4f in January. Promising start to career over fences at Wexford and Fairyhouse when hitting the frame but may need to improve again.

Form: 379-732

Dolciano Dici²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

7/2

Won a hurdle race in France and had been off since April 2016 prior to low-key start for champion trainer in 2m Grade 3 here in January when fourth of seven. Disappointed on debut in a Navan beginners contest last month.

Form: 41/4-4

Flawless Escape²⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| BF

5/2

Sent off the 13/2 favourite when last seen in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham festival eventually finishing a well beaten 20L behind Blow By Blow. Market possibly the best guide on chasing introduction.

Form: 2/12130-

Mash Potato^p,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: C J Orr⁽⁷⁾| T: N C Kelly

100/1

Only one win now in 24 starts over hurdles despite often being the subject of market support. Looks a little out of his depth on chasing debut.

Form: 3-93433

Moonshine Bay²⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington

20/1

Won a Down Royal hurdle when last seen in May and possibly best watched on chasing debut here, one for the notebooks.

Form: 61PP8-1

Mortal^t²²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: J P O'Brien

10/1

Useful 127-rated maiden hurdler and well behind Agent Boru in a Fairyhouse novice handicap hurdle in April. Looks up against it on chasing bow.

Form: 1/4F226-

Whisperinthebreeze¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington

12/1

122-rated handicap hurdler was sent off favourite on chasing debut when disappointing before a second of nine beaten 6L behind Ben Dundee last month. Place claims on third start over fences.

Form: 149-242

Forecasts

Any Second Now (5/2), Flawless Escape (5/2), Dolciano Dici (7/2), Mortal (10/1), Agent Boru (11/1), Whisperinthebreeze (12/1), Cherokee Bill (20/1), Moonshine Bay (20/1), Art Of Security (40/1), Mash Potato (100/1)

Although the lower rated hurdler of the two last season, the Gordon Elliott-trained FLAWLESS ESCAPE can get off the mark over the larger obstacles on debut seeing off the attentions of the six-race chase maiden Any Second Now. The Noel Meade-trained Cherokee Bill who has shown snippets of ability in a couple of starts over fences to date, can grab the third place.