14:25 Naas

Monday 16 December 2019

All12:2012:5013:2013:5514:2515:0015:30

Kildare Post & Kildare Now Beginners Chase

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 5m 10.80s

Bapaume^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| BF| D

5/4

Grade One winning hurdler in 2017 placed twice at that level last season as well as finishing fourth in the Stayers Hurdle. High class recruit to chasing then and forgiven his chase debut where he led but stopped quickly in a hot contest.

Form: 24-3427

Best Behavior⁹

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

66/1

Unseated in first two chase races so a relief he at least completed at Navan latest although again his jumping was poor in that ninth placed finish. Risky proposition.

Form: 0/68-UU9

Cartwright^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| C

33/1

134-rated hurdler who could never really get involved in some warm handicap hurdles last season. Likely to have a future over fences, but is up against some unexposed sorts here and he was well held at Fairyhouse.

Form: 6064-00

Castle Oliver⁸

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

66/1

Bumper winner but made little impression subsequently over hurdles and two chase races so far also uninspiring.

Form: 3160-09

Monkshood²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

16/1

Smart hurdler's two chases have been won by Arkle winner Duc Des Genievres and Grade One scorer Laurina. Acquitted himself well latest in one of the hottest beginners chase contested all season but was behind School Boy Hours.

Form: 5U/0P-74

Monotype^b1³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 126

33/1

129-rated hurdler placed twice in six starts over fences but up against it here against less exposed but higher rated hurdlers.

Form: 533F6-6

Out Of The Loop⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J S McGarvey| T: P Roche| D

33/1

Lightly-raced gelding who has three wins over hurdles. Both chase races better than bare form with error two out on debut and impeding two out latest contributing to defeats.

Form: 511/P46

Press Conference³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington

7/2

Point-to-point and hurdle scorer far from disgraced in fourth behind multiple Grade 1 winning hurdler Faugheen first time over fences at Punchestown (fourth of 17). This also a hot contest but has each-way possibilities.

Form: 27/71-04

School Boy Hours²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: N Meade

11/2

Maiden hurdle scorer likely to be a deal better over fences based on his excellent third to Grade One and Cheltenham Festival winners Laurina and Minella Indo at Gowran. Leading claims on that form.

Form: F2F1-P3

Spyglass Hill³⁴

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

14/1

130-rated hurdler who won at Limerick this season before finishing sixth on chase debut ahead of likely favourite Bapaume despite being 25 times the price. Unlikely to do so again however.

Form: 2352-16

West Is Best⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W J Lanigan

100/1

Ordinary effort in fifth on chase debut at Thurles but non-factor at Punchestown until fall three out. Others far more appealing.

Form: 1U-465U

Ask Mary⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Miss E A Lalor⁽⁵⁾| T: R H Lalor

80/1

Multiple winning point-to-pointer last season but struggled since in a number of starts under rules including in a couple of chases contested so far.

Form: 654-868

Bridge Native^t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: P E Corbett| T: Mrs D A Love

50/1

Fair fifth of 15 on chase debut despite rarely threatening serious involvement but in considerably deeper waters now against vastly superior hurdlers.

Form: 236445

Caravation²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Brian Hayes| T: J P Dempsey| C

12/1

Dual hurdles winner in March, but ran just respectably when sixth to Fakir D'Oudairies on chase debut before unseating at Navan. Others preferred.

Form: 2110-6U

Countess Cathleen^h³¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Moore| T: D Hickey| D

66/1

Lightly-raced but promising 116-rated handicap hurdler, the daughter of Yeats looks one best watched as she makes her debut over the larger obstacles.

Form: 41F/659-

I'm Not Alone^t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Ricky Doyle⁽³⁾| T: C O'Dwyer

100/1

Without a win now in nine starts over hurdles including a couple of heavy defeat in handicap company. Makes no appeal over fences first time.

Form: 030-088

Star Max¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien

6/1

Dual hurdle winner a 19L second to useful Eclair De Beaufeu first time over fences before finishing fourth of 18 at Fairyhouse behind a triple Grade One placed performer from Closutton. Again leading claims bar the Mullins inmate.

Form: 1019-24

Non-Runners

Krisquin¹⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: S Nolan J: E O'Connell

Boston Spray⁸²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: D J Barry J: Reserve 1

Forecasts

Bapaume (5/4), Press Conference (7/2), School Boy Hours (11/2), Star Max (6/1), Caravation (12/1), Spyglass Hill (14/1), Monkshood (16/1), Boston Spray (25/1), Out Of The Loop (33/1), Monotype (33/1), Cartwright (33/1), Bridge Native (50/1), Krisquin (50/1), Best Behavior (66/1), Countess Cathleen (66/1), Castle Oliver (66/1), Ask Mary (80/1), I'm Not Alone (100/1), West Is Best (100/1)

Having finished seventh beaten 26L BAPAUME was obviously disappointing first time over fences but he jumped well enough before clearly tiring so this 158-rated Grade One winner is worth another go for the champion trainer in an interesting contest. None of Bapaume's rivals were comparable hurdlers but School Boy Hours who ran so well behind two Grade One winners and Star Max who has twice met Grade One performers both have better form at this early stage over fences.