12:50 Punchestown

Saturday 16 November 2019

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4016:00

Naas Oil Beginners Chase

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 5m 25.6s

Antey⁵⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| C| D

10/1

Took longer than most to win for this stable but followed up a head victory at Cork with a short-head win here last season. First time over fences and while he isn't bred for the job the fact he hails from this yard his jumping should be sound.

Form: 36211/

Baily Gorse^t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J S McGarvey| T: M F Morris

66/1

Below-par 106-rated maiden hurdler has shown little in three initial starts over fences to be considered in this contest.

Form: 70-3U65

Berkerys Enigma²³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: I J McCarthy| T: S Curling

66/1

Son of Flemensfirth won a point-to-point when last seen in March. Yard without a winner over hurdles or fences in last five seasons so best watched.

Form: 51-

Best Behavior⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B Browne⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan

66/1

1-7 over hurdles (rated 122) and last seen in that sphere being well held in a Cork handicap. Unseated at the first in recent chase debut and again best watched.

Form: 120/68-U

Chavi Artist⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Donagh Meyler| T: T Mullins

50/1

1-8 over hurdles with just a Fairyhouse maiden to his name. Tailed off on chase debut at Naas last month where his jumping wasn't perfect by any means. Hard to fancy here.

Form: 31-4408

Cracking Smart^b,t⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| CD

20/1

One of three for last year's winning yard. Came up just short of top level over hurdles but 148 rating shows he is a high class performer. Second on chase debut before falling at the first at Naas. Genuine chance with a clear round.

Form: 630-82F

Dommage Pour Toi⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| D

11/2

Grade Two winning novice hurdler was one of several rivals to come to grief at the first at Naas last week. Hopefully put that behind him now and certainly should prove a smart novice chaser capable of being involved here.

Form: P321-5F

Faugheen²²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| C| D

8/11

One of the finest hurdlers of this century with the 2015 Champion Hurdle one of nine Grade 1 wins. Very late to start over fences but his trainer has often spoken of how well he schools and if he jumps soundly he will be very hard to beat.

Form: 61/2F3P-

Flawless Escape³⁵

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

14/1

Winning hurdler was second in his second chase start at Roscommon and booked for the same spot until falling at the last at Fairyhouse subsequently. Vulnerable to less exposed sorts but chase form among best on offer.

Form: 130/9-2F

Glenloe²⁹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: M A Enright| T: G Elliott

20/1

Second to now top-class chaser Delta Work in 2018 Pertemps Final at Cheltenham Festival remains his career highlight. Fair form in two chase starts last winter but may come up short here and likely fare better upped to 3m.

Form: 2325/54-

Lord Schnitzel^t²⁰⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: M J Smith

20/1

Maiden over hurdles had one fair run and two subsequent disappointments but makes no appeal here against high class opposition.

Form: 7/6289-

Midnight Stroll^h³¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: R Tyner| D

20/1

Won twice over hurdles and first past the post again when last seen in January only to be disqualified for a banned substance. Rated 138 over hurdles so looks a useful recruit but found a warm race to start in.

Form: 140P/41-

Press Conference¹⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| BF

25/1

Limerick maiden hurdle winner last seen struggling in a 2m5f handicap here at the festival in May. Better to come now over fences given point-to-point background but up against it today.

Form: 127/71-0

Spades Are Trumps⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: G P Cromwell| C

25/1

2m maiden hurdle win here in 2017 remains his lone success although he has been relatively lightly raced since. Decent effort when last seen at Killarney and could be involved here if jumping well on chasing bow.

Form: 0/62-892

The Long Mile¹⁹

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

66/1

112-rated handicap hurdler, well held and never getting to the winner on his first couple of starts over the larger obstacles last month.

Form: 26-4737

Trappist Monk¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

25/1

Kilbeggan maiden hurdle scorer bred to make a better chaser and plenty of promise about his second to exceptional Samcro on chase bow. Could well find one of similar ilk today in Faugheen but makes each-way appeal.

Form: 43031-2

Walk Away¹⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead

11/2

Point-to-point and maiden hurdle winner acquitted himself well when in at the deep end at Aintree to be fourth in a Grade One. Disappointed here next but remains a horse of considerable potential especially now over fences.

Form: 114-7

Forecasts

Faugheen (8/11), Walk Away (11/2), Dommage Pour Toi (11/2), Antey (10/1), Flawless Escape (14/1), Lord Schnitzel (20/1), Glenloe (20/1), Midnight Stroll (20/1), Cracking Smart (20/1), Press Conference (25/1), Spades Are Trumps (25/1), Trappist Monk (25/1), Chavi Artist (50/1), Baily Gorse (66/1), The Long Mile (66/1), Berkerys Enigma (66/1), Best Behavior (66/1)

The horse known as 'The Machine', FAUGHEEN may be a few lb short of his near unbeatable best these days but he was second and third in Grade One's over 2m and 3m last season so he remains a very smart horse and if he can replicate that level of form over fences here he ought to take what is a pretty strong beginners chase. There are plenty of interesting sorts in opposition; many of which promise to be better over fences than they were over hurdles. Dommage Pour Toi fell at the first on chase debut but he ought to make up into a smart novice and he is most feared although Trappist Monk and Walk Away are also shortlisted as two cut from a similar cloth.