Mongey Communications Novice Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 12:16 | Winning time: 4m 21.50s

Benruben⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 138| D

11/1

Useful chaser. 2 wins from 3 runs this season. Didn't need to be at best when winning 7-runner Gr 3 chase (5/2) at Roscommon (16.6f, good) 47 days ago by ½ length from Razoul. Respected.

Form: 2F/8-411

Sizing Pottsie^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: P D Kennedy| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 148| D

20/1

Smart chaser. 16/1, 29¼ lengths last of 5 to Battleoverdoyen in Gr 2 chase at Down Royal (19.6f, heavy) 14 days ago. Should strip fitter for that, so not totally dismissed.

Form: 3U11F-5

Darver Star^t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Moore| T: G P Cromwell| C

11/10

Promising type. Very smart winner at 21f over hurdles. 8/13, easily landed 9-runner novice chase at this course (17f, soft) on debut over fences 32 days ago, cruising clear.

Form: 11323-1

Felix Desjy^h⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| CD

13/8

Smart winner at 16f over hurdles. Jumped accurately when completing simple task in 7-runner novice chase at Killarney on debut over fences 40 days ago. Considerable progress on the cards.

Form: 151/2-F1

Pakens Rock²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Flanagan| T: B J Murphy| OR: 136| D

18/1

Useful chaser. Six wins from 22 NH runs. 3/1, career best when winning 10-runner novice chase at Galway (18.2f, heavy) 21 days ago, staying on well. This looks much tougher.

Form: 575211

Emily Moon⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: Mrs J Harrington| D

28/1

Fairly useful chaser. 13/2, bit below form 14½ lengths third of 7 to Buildmeupbuttercup in listed mares event at Gowran (16f, good to soft) 43 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase.

Form: 56413-3

A Wave Of The Sea³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| BF| CD

16/1

Useful hurdler. Fairly useful winner at 10f on flat. 15/8, 2¼ lengths third of 5 to Zarkareva in Gr 3 chase at this course (18.6f, soft) 31 days ago. Uphill task.

Form: 17-0413

Forecasts

Darver Star (11/10), Felix Desjy (13/8), Benruben (11/1), A Wave Of The Sea (16/1), Pakens Rock (18/1), Sizing Pottsie (20/1), Emily Moon (28/1)

DARVER STAR was comfortably the best of this field over hurdles and, having taken well to chasing when scoring at this course in October, he's likely to go in again despite formidable opposition from the talented Felix Desjy, who also made a flawless start to his career over fences. Benruben is the pick of the remainder.