14:20 Punchestown

Sunday 8 December 2019

All12:2012:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:20

GAIN Supporting Laois GAA Beginners Chase

Off time: 14:32 | Winning time: 4m 18.20s

Ballyneety^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: P D Kennedy| T: J P O'Brien| D

33/1

Useful hurdler who has one win to his name but coped well in handicaps. Two no shows over fences where mistakes cost him, including at Navan last time, and needs to iron out them blunders to be competitive.

Form: 5238-08

Breaken^h²¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| BF| D

15/8

Bolted up over hurdles on stable debut but raced too freely when hooded for the first time at Punchestown (2m) in May. Hood retained and will need to mature but could be a classy prospect.

Form: 2/1-4

Castle Oliver²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: N P Madden| T: P Roche| D

50/1

Sole win came in Fairyhouse bumper but largely disappointing since, including when tailed off 11th on chasing debut at Navan (2m) last month. Plenty more require now and easily opposable.

Form: 3160-0

Chavi Artist⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: T Mullins| D

66/1

In rear for a majority of his recent starts and never a factor in three chase starts won by some top class prospects, including Faugheen. Another minor role looks likely to happen today.

Form: 440800

Dunvegan²¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: P A Fahy| CD

13/8

Highly tried after some promising efforts novice hurdling last year, and bounced back with solid third over C&D in May. Not seen since and has the scope to do much better over fences.

Form: 21/10P-3

Empirion⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: C D Maxwell| T: M J Smith

100/1

Modest at best over hurdles but not as good over fences, including when falling at large prices the last twice. That form looks way off the mark and likely to be one of the outsiders once again.

Form: 00-08FU

Envol Pierji²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: I J McCarthy| T: Miss E Doyle| BF

20/1

Last win came over hurdles at Tramore in October (2m5f) but bombed out on handicap hurdle debut when distant seventh at Clonmel (2m7f) last month. More will be needed in this sphere.

Form: 224-17

Fivecardstud⁷⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: J T R Dreaper

100/1

Cost €36,000 as a four-year-old but was well-held in the point-to-point sphere when seen almost two years ago. Form looks way off the mark and best watched on his return to action.

Form: 1421P6/

Trainwreck²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 138| D

5/1

Still a maiden over fences but is beginning to get the hang of things, including when well-placed fourth at Navan (2m1f) last month. One to note if there is market support and could be an improver.

Form: U3F-084

Valdieu¹⁴

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

8/1

Looked a promising sort over hurdles at the start of last season but form somewhat faltered since. Fifth of 14 on chasing bow at Navan (2m1f) two weeks ago and while more is needed, he may have the scope to progress.

Form: 1703-45

West Is Best³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: H Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: W J Lanigan

50/1

Off the mark at Limerick in May but not as good since and made inauspicious debut over fences when fifth in 2m2f Thurles novice chase. Likely to be an outsider once again but may have some scope to improve.

Form: 91U-465

Arverne²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Brian Hayes| T: G P Cromwell

16/1

Had some useful form in France but was well-beaten on only start for previous yard and offered little when sixth in Naas Grade 3 hurdle (2m) on stable debut. Plenty more required on chasing debut.

Form: 13-6

Deilginis¹⁷

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

50/1

Winner over hurdles at Wexford in May but bombed out when tenth of 11 on chasing debut at Thurles (2m2f) last month. Will find easier opportunities than this in time.

Form: 0604-10

Non-Runners

I'm A Game Changer¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: G Elliott J: D N Russell

Forecasts

Dunvegan (13/8), Breaken (15/8), I'm A Game Changer (9/2), Trainwreck (5/1), Valdieu (8/1), Arverne (16/1), Envol Pierji (20/1), Ballyneety (33/1), Deilginis (50/1), Castle Oliver (50/1), West Is Best (50/1), Chavi Artist (66/1), Fivecardstud (100/1), Empirion (100/1)

BREAKEN looked a top-class if not difficult prospect in two starts last season, but based on his Limerick victory he could be a graded performer in waiting. He should be tough to beat providing he handles the occasion. His main rival could be Dunvegan, who was highly regarded enough to be sent off well-fancied for a Grade 1 last season and has the scope of a chaser in time, while the likes of Trainwreck and Ballyneety have slowly got the hang of things but need to improve once again to be competitive.