Three Ireland Rated Novice Chase

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 3m 54.90s

Andalusa¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| BF| D

85/40

Put some indifferent form behind her to score well in a novice hurdle in March on heavy ground at Clonmel; made creditable chase debut here in July; needs to improve her jumping but likely to have every chance if doing so.

Form: 3/8681-3

Ballyegan Hero²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Phillip Enright| T: J J Walsh| OR: 116| CD

3/1

Winning hurdler who is now quite experienced over fences having raced without success on nine occasions; last seen running well over hurdles at Limerick in July; chances but vulnerable to less exposed types.

Form: 96226-2

Cats For Cash^b³²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott

40/1

107-rated hurdler (won once) beaten 21L on chase debut into eighth at Galway last September; failed to improve for second outing later that month at Navan; hard to assess after long break.

Form: 260187-

Gun Merchant^p⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: D F O'Regan| T: G Elliott| D

11/1

Off the mark at second attempt in bumpers in June 2019; slowly progressing afterwards in novice hurdles and some promise last month in Tipperary maiden; well beaten twice since; may find fences to his liking but probably best watched on debut.

Form: 53P-564

Mystery Stowaway²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: J P Ryan| D

13/8

Hurdle and bumper winner making chase debut; last seen easily winning weak maiden hurdle at Limerick in July; should be full of confidence but another difficult to assess first time up.

Form: 309-221

Shamad⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Kevin Sexton| T: Peter Fahey

18/1

Has been in fair form over hurdles since the resumption of racing including in handicaps; not disgraced on chase debut at Tipperary in July; should be more to come; interesting.

Form: 870/226

Forecasts

Mystery Stowaway (13/8), Andalusa (85/40), Ballyegan Hero (3/1), Gun Merchant (11/1), Shamad (18/1), Cats For Cash (40/1)

ANDALUSA needs to improve her jumping but if she can looks to have an excellent chance of gaining her first chase success for Willie Mullins on only her second start. The mare took a while to get the hang of hurdles. Finally winning on her penultimate racecourse appearance in a novice hurdle at Clonmel. She was a beaten favourite on her chase debut but should be wiser here and looks to have an excellent chance. Shamad had been running well over hurdles earlier this summer and raced with enthusiasm on his chase debut recently at Tipperaray. He should be capable of improvement. Ballyegan Hero can put his experience to good use and challenge for minor honours.