Winter Festival November 30th & December 1st Beginners Chase

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 5m 45.5s

Cap York¹⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: N Meade

11/4

Won a competitive 3m handicap hurdle at Punchestown last season, but his form tailed off in the spring. Can go well fresh, though, and should adapt to fences, so can't be dismissed on chase bow.

Form: 14199-8

Captain Cj²⁰⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: C D Maxwell| T: D A McLoughlin

14/1

Travelled best when second to Cap York on hurdles bow at Navan, and won easily at Hexham (2m7½f) in March. Set to make it a 4-timer in point-to-points when falling on final start in that sphere, and type to make into a useful chaser.

Form: F33/241-

Champagne Classic²³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 146| BF| C

1/1

Cheltenham Festival and Punchestown Grade 1 winner who has matched his hurdles form when placed in Graded chases at Naas and Navan early this year. Sets a stiff standard, and likely to be very hard to contain.

Form: 1311/32-

Flawless Escape¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| BF

3/1

Smart novice hurdler (started favourite for Martin Pipe at Cheltenham) in 2017/18. Well held on sole chase start last term, but shaped well when second of 16 to Swordsman in maiden at Roscommon 12 days ago. Sure to improve, and dangerous to dismiss.

Form: 2130/9-2

Lotto Numbers¹⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: I J McCarthy| T: R K Watson

66/1

Dam was a useful handicap chaser for Bill Harney, and this gelding was placed on his second start in point-to-points in the spring, but he appears to face a herculean task in such smart company making his debut under Rules.

Form: P-3

The Long Mile¹²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey

33/1

Best effort over hurdles when runner-up in a 2m novice here in February. Not disgraced since, but exposed as a fair maiden at best, and makes limited appeal switching to larger obstacles.

Form: 5426-47

Forecasts

Champagne Classic (1/1), Cap York (11/4), Flawless Escape (3/1), Captain Cj (14/1), The Long Mile (33/1), Lotto Numbers (66/1)

A cracking race in prospect, and while CHAMPAGNE CLASSIC will be hard to beat given his class and experience edge. the likes of Flawless Escape, Captain CJ and Cap York all have the makings of useful chasers, and it's multiple point winner Captain CJ who could punish any lapses from the likely market leader.