12:50 Thurles

Thursday 7 November 2019

All12:5013:2013:5514:3015:0015:3516:05

Thurles Beginners Chase

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 4m 46.90s

Arizengo^b¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: P J O'Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: R K Watson| C

33/1

Easily his best effort when winning over 2m here last month in handicap hurdle (rated 80); opening account on 16th rules start. Now makes immediate change to fencing.

Form: 099001

Benefit Run²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: R O'Sullivan

20/1

Fair maiden hurdle winner, shaped well enough on chase debut last month at Downpatrick (2m3f, yielding) when beaten less than 10L and may be suited coming down in trip.

Form: 941665

Fleurys Fort^p¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: R P Treacy⁽⁵⁾| T: L Young| OR: 95| C

66/1

Regressive over hurdles in 2019 and was beaten 28L when finishing in midfield over C&D last month back over fences; needs to raise his game.

Form: 455007

Glen Of Aherlow²⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: J P O'Brien

5/1

Left his maiden hurdle form well behind with winning handicap debut at Clonmel (2m½, yielding; 6-1) in February; off since and one to note on introduction over these obstacles.

Form: 00001-

Just Call Me⁶⁶⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: D J McInerney| T: A J McNamara

100/1

Inconsistent handicap hurdler, beaten 20+L in 2017 chase outing over C&D and returns from 669-day absence starting for new connections; watching brief safest.

Form: 096984/

Lleyton^h²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Kevin Sexton| T: J R Finn| BF

25/1

Just the one success over hurdles from 21 starts (awarded second race by stewards); did show some aptitude for chasing in Downpatrick beginners' contest in September however.

Form: PP9644

Muyam Spirit^t1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Cawley⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan

16/1

Didn't get beyond the first on chase bow at Tipperary last month, though since outran odds of 33-1 when 1¾L fourth of 11 in Tramore contest (2m, soft to heavy). Goes up in trip now attempting to build on that effort.

Form: 0-106F4

Noureev^p⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: M A Enright| T: G O'Loughlin

8/1

Clonmel maiden hurdle winner (fourth start) in March; possibly in need to run at Navan (2m4f, good; 16-1) on chase debut in September given he faded some way from home.

Form: 0861-6

Shakeytry^h⁵⁰⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: E J O'Grady

25/1

509 days have elapsed since he won a Downpatrick handicap hurdle (2m2½f, good; 8-1), his first success at the sixth attempt in that sphere. Market should reveal more on belated chase bow.

Form: 444/P21-

West Is Best¹⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: W J Lanigan

66/1

Off the mark over timber at sixth time of asking when landing 2m5f Limerick handicap (heavy) in March; didn't achieve much in three runs after and now makes switch to fencing.

Form: 691U-46

Athloman Cottage²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: A McCurtin⁽⁵⁾| T: D Duggan| OR: 94

100/1

Yet to really threaten in seven starts over fences, modest sort has been handicapping recently and twice tailed off last month (latest over hurdles). Hard to recommend.

Form: 3-5U38D

Bee A Beneficiary^h⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Queally| OR: 103| BF

7/4

Close second in 2m4½f handicap chase here in March remains standout effort (from six) over fences; shaped well enough at Clonmel recently and could harbour place claims back here.

Form: 43-6933

Belle West^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: W J Burke

5/1

Modest 90-rated handicap hurdler the daughter of Westerner showed some promise at Sligo in September on second chase start; though she was in trouble here since when falling at third last. Down in trip.

Form: 7-3103F

Flamingo's Court²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Dillon Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: A McNamara

20/1

Won a mares' maiden hurdle at Wexford in May 2018, but well beaten in two handicaps subsequently (tongue tied both times) and was well beaten against her own sex at Fairyhouse last month in beginners' chase (2m, yielding).

Form: 20/10P-5

Niccolai^t¹⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

16/1

Wexford novice hurdle winner in March, went close in only point-to-point start so rates a possible improver for excellent trainer now returning and going chasing; one to note.

Form: 500710-

Thisonesforollie^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 97

12/1

Generally well held in five starts over the larger obstacles despite a couple of decent finishing positions, fifth over C&D last month in first-time cheekpieces (retained) and beaten 15+L.

Form: 4-44455

Non-Runners

Deilginis¹⁶⁹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: J P O'Brien J: Reserve 1

Ballybrowney Walk¹⁴

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: J J Mangan J: Reserve 2

Braize¹¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: Aengus King J: Reserve 3

Forecasts

Bee A Beneficiary (7/4), Belle West (5/1), Glen Of Aherlow (5/1), Noureev (8/1), Thisonesforollie (12/1), Deilginis (12/1), Ballybrowney Walk (14/1), Muyam Spirit (16/1), Niccolai (16/1), Benefit Run (20/1), Braize (20/1), Flamingo's Court (20/1), Shakeytry (25/1), Lleyton (25/1), Arizengo (33/1), West Is Best (66/1), Fleurys Fort (66/1), Athloman Cottage (100/1), Just Call Me (100/1)

Glen Of Aherlow was much-improved when making a winning start in handicaps over timber in the spring and Joseph O'Brien's charge commands plenty respect back from a break now going chasing. Bee A Beneficiary shaped well at Clonmel recently and is shortlisted with Muyam Spirit but the vote goes to NICCOLAI. She won over timber at Wexford in the spring and should have a future chasing given her point-to-point record. She's in excellent hands and Henry De Bromhead's horses are running well recently.