13:10 Limerick

Sunday 29 December 2019

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Greenmount Equine Hospital Rated Novice Chase

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 6m 20.40s

Young Dev³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr D Skehan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Hogan| OR: 111| C

8/13

Arrives in cracking form after wins here over both hurdles (2m5f, soft/heavy) and more recently back over fences (2m1½f). Penalised for the latter, but could find more now back up in trip. Big player.

Form: 06P611

Alohamora¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: J Nash

6/1

1-14 over hurdles and had to travel to Catterick to record that win. Nonetheless, some solid form in that discipline and put up an encouraging debut effort over fences when third at Tramore recently. Should be thereabouts.

Form: 823843

Ask And Answer^p1,t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Kevin Sexton| T: S Aherne| OR: 98

7/1

Tipperary handicap hurdle winner (3m, good/yielding) in May, but has gone backwards since, including his last four starts over fences. Cheekpieces go on, but others preferred.

Form: 1P3066

Gaillimh Abu^t¹⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: D J McInerney| T: P G Kelly

25/1

Sprang a 25-1 surprise in a Roscommon maiden hurdle last year, but not as good in just two starts since. Needs to improve for this switch to chasing.

Form: 0/791-70

Montagne D'Argent^t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Flanagan| T: D H Kelly

12/1

Probably his best effort over hurdles came when fifth at Downpatrick in March, but he was some way below that next time. Chase debut was not without encouragement, and this longer trip is positive, so he could take closer involvement.

Form: 4/575-09

Singirishmansing^t⁹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: P J Cawley⁽⁷⁾| T: P G Kelly

50/1

Has not shown much in the way of ability in either bumpers or over hurdles, and looks best watched on this chase debut.

Form: 7-58599

Therellalwaysbeone⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Phillip Enright| T: T Foley| C

5/1

Sole win over hurdles came over 3m last year, although bettered that when second at Punchestown in February. A long way below that level in two starts since, including on his chase debut at Cork last month. Would be interesting if back to his best.

Form: P/102-09

Turndownthevolume⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: O R Brown⁽⁷⁾| T: R Tector| OR: 91

14/1

Triple point winner, but 0-5 over fences and even her best effort, which came in a Fairyhouse handicap last month, looks some way short of what will be required to win this.

Form: 1366-P2

Forecasts

Young Dev (8/13), Therellalwaysbeone (5/1), Alohamora (6/1), Ask And Answer (7/1), Montagne D'Argent (12/1), Turndownthevolume (14/1), Gaillimh Abu (25/1), Singirishmansing (50/1)

Therellalwaysbeone has been in the doldrums of late, but he showed some fairly useful hurdles form and would be a major player if able to revive. The market could be the best guide to his chance, while Montagne D'Argent is another who may have more to come. Alohamora is another potential contender, but preference is for YOUNG DEV, who is in the best form of this field and should be able to find more for this step up in trip and complete a hat-trick.