15:45 Naas

Sunday 8 March 2020

All14:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:5017:20

Irish Racing Writers Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle (Listed)

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 3m 45.2s

Beacon Edge¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 142| D

7/4

Continues to progress for current connections. The Doyen gelding was last seen beaten a nose over a similar trip in a Grade 2 contest at this venue last month. Another bold bid expected.

Form: 14-312

Cedarwood Road⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: D N Russell| T: G O'Loughlin| D

7/2

Took a couple of racecourse efforts to find his feet but put those behind him when scoring very easily at Leopardstown when last seen in December . Needs to kick on again but manner of that success suggests that is likely.

Form: 961

Entoucas²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 131| CD

9/4

Off the mark for connections at the seventh time of asking over hurdles when landing a maiden hurdle over C&D last month. Needs to back that run up here against stiffer opposition.

Form: 26-3221

Jungle Junction²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| D

11/1

Won at just the second attempt over hurdles when landing a 2m maiden at Navan on heavy ground last month. Now in the winning habit and a leading player in this company.

Form: 6-22221

Le Musigny⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: B J Geraghty| T: H De Bromhead| D

20/1

Half-brother to high-class jumpers Grands Crus and Le Richebourg. Winner on debut for connections on his sole start to date landing a Punchestown soft ground maiden over a similar trip in January. Could well still have more to give.

Form: 3/P-1

Fantasio D'alene³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| D

20/1

Experienced bumper performer, winner of one of his five starts in the discipline. Bumped into Appreciate It on latest start at Leopardstown last month and this appears a tough ask on hurdling introduction.

Form: F3-1224

Meticulous^t⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien

10/1

Winning bumper, not disgraced on hurdling debut in a Grade 2 contest at Punchestown behind Andy Dufresne in January. Open to plenty of improvement.

Form: 1428-4

Non-Runners

The Little Yank¹⁷

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: J P Ryan J: Liam Quinlan

Forecasts

Beacon Edge (7/4), Entoucas (9/4), Cedarwood Road (7/2), Meticulous (10/1), Jungle Junction (11/1), Le Musigny (20/1), Fantasio D'alene (20/1), The Little Yank (33/1)

The Noel Meade-trained BEACON EDGE can get back to winning ways for owners Gigginstown House Stud. The six-year-old was beaten a nose over a similar trip in a Grade 2 contest at this venue last month and can see off the attentions of the Joseph O'Brien-trained, J P McManus-owned Entoucas who got off the mark for connections at the seventh time of asking over hurdles when landing a maiden hurdle over C&D last month. Cedarwood Road, another winner last time out and Jungle Junction can compete for remaining prize money.