15:10 Thurles

Saturday 21 March 2020

All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:40

Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 4m 37.1s

Sizing Pottsie^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| D

9/4

Bumper winner who showed plenty of ability in light hurdles career but much better since sent chasing, making it 2-3 over fences when pulling clear from the final fence when beating Cut The Mustard in a Grade 3 at Navan this month. Good chance.

Form: 3-33U11

Capuccimix¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 136

9/1

Hurdles winner who fulfilled previous promise over fences when making all and winning easily when odds-on at Naas last time. This is harder but this lightly raced 7yo is with a very good yard and may improve.

Form: 17-2U21

Dallas Des Pictons^b¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 140| D

10/1

Useful hurdler last season, including when second in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham Festival. Mixed bag over fences this season but back in good form when close fourth in 2m4f Grade 3 in first-time blinkers at Naas and that makes gives him a chance.

Form: 0-153U4

Dunvegan⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Cooper| T: P A Fahy| OR: 140

8/1

Bumper and hurdles winner who won well on chasing debut at Punchestown in December but was decisively held third at Naas last time. Still early days for him over fences but needs to find improvement.

Form: 10P-313

Ministerforsport¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Phillip Enright| T: Noel O'Neill| OR: 140| D

20/1

Point-to-point and hurdles winner who was beaten only narrowly in a Grade 3 at Naas (2m4f) last time. His overall record over regulation fences raises doubts as to whether this 9yo will be in the same form here.

Form: 30P752

Zero Ten³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: D J Mullins| T: E Mullins| OR: 143| BF| D

3/1

Useful hurdler made a bright start to chasing career earlier this term, winning on debut at Galway in July before finishing second to a good horse at Naas six months later. Leading form claims if all is well after last time out fall.

Form: 12-112F

Cut The Mustard^h¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137| BF

13/2

Winning hurdler who has done well since switched to fences this season, winning two of her four chase starts. Has work to do to reverse latest Navan form with her 12l conqueror there, Sizing Pottsie.

Form: 4-61212

Star Max²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 135

20/1

Winner on the Flat and hurdles. Plenty of ability when in the frame over 2m4f at Naas in latest two chase starts, front-running both times. More is needed today though.

Form: 9-24924

Emily Moon¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| CD

12/1

Winning hurdler who won easily over C&D on chasing debut last time. This is much harder though and Robbie Power jumps ship for stablemate Sizing Pottsie.

Form: 555641

Forecasts

Sizing Pottsie (9/4), Zero Ten (3/1), Cut The Mustard (13/2), Dunvegan (8/1), Capuccimix (9/1), Dallas Des Pictons (10/1), Emily Moon (12/1), Ministerforsport (20/1), Star Max (20/1)

Last-time-out Grade 3 winner Sizing Pottsie commands major respect but in receipt of a handy 6lb, preference is for ZERO TEN. Three from four over hurdles - and a close second in a Grade 2 novice the other time - Zero Ten did well on his first two starts over fences, winning at Galway in July and then chasing home a good horse at Naas in January when back from six months off. Dallas Des Pictons, also a useful hurdler and who ran well on his latest chase start, is best of the remainder.