Ballymaloe Foods Beginners Chase

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 5m 18.2s

Another Barney¹⁹

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

25/1

Naas maiden hurdle winner in January, didn't progress after and beaten combined tally of 100L+ in two chase starts. Hard to be confident at the moment.

Form: 1555-98

Bacardys⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| C

9/4

Grade 1-winning novice over timber in 2017, didn't look a natural going chasing last year and then unable to strike a blow over hurdles at spring festival in Britain and Ireland. Well held at Naas last month (2m3f, good to yielding) back chasing.

Form: 1/3FF0-7

Borderline Chatho⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A Fleming

7/1

Bumper and maiden hurdle winner at Naas, latest coming last month after a break over 2m3f (good to yielding) and seemingly without being asked for maximum effort. Can go well now switched straight to chasing.

Form: 31/7-41

Gun Digger^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

3/1

Made the frame both chase starts so far at Gowran Park and Navan over just shy of this trip. Entitled to sound claims once more in this line-up and should have his say.

Form: 12P0-32

Tower Bridge^t⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| C

3/1

Lightly-raced Grade 1-winning novice hurdler last season, with success over 2m6f, also stays 3m. Jumping let him down on chase bow last month at Punchestown (2m4f, good) and will have to improve.

Form: 04153-5

Whisperinthebreeze^p1²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 126

6/1

Hasn't lived up to market expectations on three starts over fences, but has something to work on. Cheekpieces added now and too early to be dismissive.

Form: 49-2425

Forecasts

Bacardys (9/4), Gun Digger (3/1), Tower Bridge (3/1), Whisperinthebreeze (6/1), Borderline Chatho (7/1), Another Barney (25/1)

Perhaps not the strongest race and Gun Digger probably sets the standard on his two efforts in this sphere already. He should be bang there but BORDERLINE CHATHO had something in hand when winning over hurdles last time at Naas and it might be noteworthy connections point him straight over fences. He shapes as if this will be his game, and can now demonstrate it. Tower Bridge will have to jump better, but should be able to before long, while Whisperinthebreeze has improvement to find. Bacardys has not impressed as a chaser but it is eye-catching the Ruby Walsh throws over for the first time in a while and trusts his fencing to hold up.