Slaney Beginners Chase

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 10.70s

Braid Blue²⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| D

11/4

Top class novice hurdler last seen finishing runner-up at Cheltenham in October. Likely to be popular in the market on chasing debut for respected connections

Form: 61/1112-

Castello Sforza¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Aidan Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: P Roche

7/1

Will have disappointed connections with a number of dismal efforts since returning from two years off in March 2019 but finally showed his ability when runner-up recently at Tramore; with that run under his belt he can improve.

Form: 09PP-F2

Minella United¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

20/1

Failed to make his mark over hurdles and only shown glimmers of ability on a couple of occasions; should make into a better chaser in time and worthy of consideration.

Form: 7/600-64

Monkshood¹⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean O'Keeffe⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 127| D

11/4

Smart hurdler who has found the transition to chases difficult (not helped by training problems); show some promise on two runs last year but hard to assess after being pulled up when last seen in February.

Form: 0P/744P-

Peaches And Cream²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| D

17/2

Useful hurdler (three wins, rated 126); down the field on chase bow at Tipperary at the start of July but slightly improved run next time at Killarney; open to further improvement and not out of this.

Form: 415P-05

Roi De Dubai¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Harvey⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| D

5/2

Returned from long break to run two fair races over hurdles this summer; very interesting on chase debut and worth a peek in the market.

Form: 4080-24

Non-Runners

High Sparrow¹⁶⁸

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: J P O'Brien J: O R Brown

Popong¹⁷

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: H De Bromhead J: Rachael Blackmore

Forecasts

Roi De Dubai (5/2), Braid Blue (11/4), Monkshood (11/4), Popong (3/1), Castello Sforza (7/1), High Sparrow (8/1), Peaches And Cream (17/2), Minella United (20/1)

All eyes will be on BRAID BLUE as the high-class hurdler makes his belated chase debut. The seven-year-old looks likely to have the good ground he needs to show his best and strong market support would suggest connections think him ready on debut. Castello Sforza took a while to show some ability on the track but put in a solid performance recently at Tramore and if able to improve then he should go well. Popong was another who was a decent hurdler. The mare showed enough on her chase debut at Tipperary last month to suggest she is capable of winning races over fences.