14:30 Punchestown

Sunday 9 December 2018

All12:2012:5513:2514:0014:3015:0515:40

GAIN Supporting Laois GAA Beginners Chase

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 4m 12.30s

Another Barney¹⁵

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

40/1

Naas maiden hurdle winner in January finished fifth in next three hurdle races with the last of them here possibly just about the pick. Not always fluent on recent chase bow when tailed off ninth at Gowran and therefore hard to fancy.

Form: 11555-9

Art Of Security^t⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| D

66/1

Fair hurdler who won twice and kept good company along the way but not looked a natural in two starts over fences. Unseated at the first on debut and jumped cautiously latest at Fairyhouse when eighth of 10. More to come but big step up needed.

Form: 50-16U8

Articulum^t²²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: D J Mullins| T: T O'Brien| D

8/1

Fair bumper performer ran away with a maiden hurdle but couldn't quite build on that subsequently although he was Listed placed. First chase here and as a former point-to-point winner suspect this might be the making of him.

Form: 1P4247-

Call A Cab²²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: P A Fahy| CD

20/1

Beautifully bred for fences but showed ability in three hurdles with a win here followed by a fifth of 13 and third of 25. Faces stiff opposition for his chasing debut but fully expect him to be better over fences so has each-way potential

Form: 54153-

Getabird²²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| BF| CD

4/7

Short price favourite for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham after winning first four under rules disappointed there but added a Grade Two afterwards. Makes eagerly awaited chase debut here and anything but a win would be a major shock.

Form: 11017P-

Marakoush²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J P O'Sullivan⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| C

100/1

Maiden hurdler in 2015 had smart form in 2016 but was pulled up in last three starts under rules before same fate latest in a point-to-point. Impossible to fancy him now.

Form: 66P/P-PP

Ministerforsport²⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D J McInerney⁽³⁾| T: Noel O'Neill| D

9/2

Winner of his last three point-to-points and since that a bumper and two hurdles in just four starts under rules. Hard to gauge how far he can go given rate of improvement lately but would have each-way potential here.

Form: 111/141-

Monotype¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: P Nolan| D

40/1

Three-time hurdles winner finished sixth in a pair of chases last month beaten 27L and 20L respectively. Massive step up needed here and looks more a handicap prospect.

Form: 319-166

Moon Over Germany⁸⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: H De Bromhead| D

8/1

Dual Grade Two placed hurdler for Eddie Hart back in 2016 and has a nice pedigree for chasing but starts out for new connections after 864 days off the track so fitness must be taken on trust here.

Form: 123650/

Portmore Lough⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: D F O'Regan| T: J E Kiely| D

33/1

Won second of two hurdle races in 2015 but had missed 1123 days until finishing third over fences at Galway in September which considering the absence was a very good effort. This a good bit tougher and obviously hard to keep sound.

Form: 31/3

Uisce Beatha^t¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: N P Madden| T: J P O'Brien| D

50/1

Fairyhouse maiden hurdle winner was far from fluent on his chase debut here over 2m4f as he finished fifth beaten 13½L. Bred for fences so hopefully more to come but up against it here.

Form: 21-2P5

Mitchouka⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| CD

12/1

Four time juvenile hurdle winner including Grade Three was clear when falling at the last in his chase debut before making several errors next when last off five in a Grade Three. Jumping must improve but looks the only real threat to Getabird.

Form: 1P26-F5

Forecasts

Getabird (4/7), Ministerforsport (9/2), Articulum (8/1), Moon Over Germany (8/1), Mitchouka (12/1), Call A Cab (20/1), Portmore Lough (33/1), Monotype (40/1), Another Barney (40/1), Uisce Beatha (50/1), Art Of Security (66/1), Marakoush (100/1)

GETABIRD couldn't follow in the footsteps of some of his illustrious stablemates by winning the Supreme Novices Hurdle but he nevertheless landed two Grade Twos in a stellar novice hurdle campaign yet he goes over fences with the suspicion that his best days still lie ahead. Providing a sound round of jumping he should win this en-route to bigger things. As usual Gordon Elliott provides the main threat to the Mullins-Walsh team with smart juvenile hurdler Mitchouka who has the ability to be smart himself if jumping better. Call A Cab appeals as being better over fences and is one who could make an impression at a bigger price.