14:55 Tramore

Tuesday 1 January 2019

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Ani-Pets Veterinary Clinic Rated Novice Chase

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 4m 16.7s

D'bru Na Boinne^p⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: R O'Sullivan| OR: 104

12/1

96-rated maiden hurdler gained first career win last time out when battling to success in a Thurles handicap on good to firm ground. 2lb rise very fair but much softer ground here and earlier form leaves doubts it suits.

Form: P-04891

Ballybrowney Walk^h⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Slevin| T: J J Mangan

33/1

Beaten 31L in first chase race and completely tailed off and almost pulled up next. Little better last time back over hurdles so difficult to have any confidence here.

Form: 3P5506

Buck A Trend^t⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Phillip Enright| T: J Dullea| OR: 105| BF

10/1

10-race maiden has run three fair races since switched to chasing culminating in latest 8L fifth at Tipperary. Return to bare 2m set to suit and has each-way potential here.

Form: 7-32435

Crazyheart^b,t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: D N Russell| T: P Nolan| OR: 107

7/2

Ran comfortably his best race to date over fences latest in third attempt as he finished a 3L third of 14 here over 2m5½f. Drop back in trip the biggest question mark here but effective over the trip over hurdles so expecting a bold bid.

Form: 0P2-483

Crimson Chief⁷⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: R J Condon⁽⁷⁾| T: J Morrison| BF

14/1

Winning point-to-pointer finished second in final start over hurdles here which was comfortably his best effort. First time over fences now so jumping will dictate how well he goes but capable if putting in a clear round.

Form: 15962

Littlestickarubarb^h⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Brian Hayes| T: M Winters| D

13/2

Won just one of 21 over hurdles but generally competitive in handicaps off marks in the low 100s. Will have to jump well and run right up to her best if she's to go close here.

Form: 725423

Reach Up^t⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: J P Ryan

2/1

Ballinrobe hurdle winner improved on chase debut latest when a good third at Limerick where his jumping on the whole was pretty sound. That effort certainly amongst the best on offer here so rates a leading contender.

Form: 1-53583

Roxboro Road²¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Mark Walsh| T: T M Walsh

10/3

Well bred for chasing and won well at Ballinrobe in May over hurdles which encouraged that he could have a bright future over fences. Lesser effort next however but expect him to deliver a bold showing here first time over fences.

Form: 077-18

Forecasts

Reach Up (2/1), Roxboro Road (10/3), Crazyheart (7/2), Littlestickarubarb (13/2), Buck A Trend (10/1), D'bru Na Boinne (12/1), Crimson Chief (14/1), Ballybrowney Walk (33/1)

Not the strongest of novice chases this so a chance is taken on lightly raced chase debutant ROXBORO ROAD who is a half-brother to the dual Grade One placed Any Second Now from this stable. Crazyheart and Reach Up both finished third last time out over fences and those efforts represent the best on offer over these obstacles so this pair should both also be involved.