Gift Punchestown Vouchers This Christmas Beginners Chase

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 7m 11.10s

Eklat De Rire²⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

2/1

Fairly useful winner at 23f over hurdles. 6/5, comfortably won 12-runner novice hurdle at Thurles (22.9f, heavy) when last seen out 9 months ago. Much respected on return/chasing debut for good yard.

Form: 121-

Lean Araig^p,t³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: O McKiernan| C

125/1

Lightly-raced chaser who (cheekpieces on) was pulled up in novice chase at Fairyhouse (21f, heavy, 50/1) 35 days ago. Up in trip with plenty to prove.

Form: 1190F/P

Run Wild Fred²³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 136| C

10/3

Useful hurdler/chaser. 7/1, modest fifth of 7 to Pencilfulloflead in Florida Pearl Novices' Chase at this course (22.6f, heavy) 23 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 1F1-345

School Boy Hours²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: N Meade| OR: 134

4/1

Useful chaser. 5/1, only fair fourth of 18 in novice chase at this course (19.7f, heavy) 24 days ago. Stable in good form so worth another chance significantly up in trip

Form: P3F3-24

Stormy Judge¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Danny Mullins| T: P A Fahy| OR: 114| BF

28/1

Fair maiden hurdler who made encouraging start over fences when third of 14 in minor chase (16/5) at Cork (21f, heavy) 16 days ago. Should improve up in trip but he needs to.

Form: 2355-53

The Big Dog¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Kevin Sexton| T: Peter Fahey

4/1

Fairly useful winner at 20f over hurdles. 12/1, promising third of 11 after 19 months off in novice chase at this course (19.7f, heavy) on debut over fences 14 days ago. Open to progress.

Form: 4219/2-3

Larquebuse^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Keith Donoghue| T: G Elliott| C

7/1

Useful 3m hurdler. 16/1, encouraging fifth of 11 in novice chase at Naas (19f, heavy) on debut over fences 17 days ago. Open to improvement back up in trip so holds good claims.

Form: 41416-5

Forecasts

Eklat De Rire (2/1), Run Wild Fred (10/3), School Boy Hours (4/1), The Big Dog (4/1), Larquebuse (7/1), Stormy Judge (28/1), Lean Araig (125/1)

A case can be made for a few of these but the most persuasive one is for LARQUEBUSE who made a promising start to life over fences when a returning fifth at Naas and is expected to take a big step forward now upped in trip. School Boy Hours rates a big threat if shrugging off a below-par run here last time while chasing-newcomer Eklat de Rire shouldn't be underestimated on his comeback.