12:30 Thurles

Sunday 20 December 2020

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase

Off time: 12:30 | Winning time: 6m 50.50s

Black Samurai²²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: E Walsh⁽⁵⁾| T: S Aherne

200/1

Twice-raced maiden over fences. 250/1 and hooded, only tenth of 11 in novice chase at Fairyhouse (21.2f, soft) 22 days ago. Has lots to find.

Form: 51-P0

Comporta⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: I J Power| T: J J Hanlon

200/1

Fair hurdler but yet to show that form over fences, 200/1 when seventh of 17 in novice chase at Punchestown (16f, heavy) 9 days ago. Significantly up in trip with plenty to prove.

Form: 277FU7

Escaria Ten²²

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

6/5

Fairly useful 3m winner over hurdles who (14/1) posted promising fifth of 11 in novice chase at Fairyhouse (21.2f, soft, 14/1) on debut over fences 22 days ago. Sure to do better, so he's in the mix.

Form: 23110-5

Face The Odds^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade

16/1

Fairly useful hurdler who (100/1) showed promise when fifth of 13 in novice chase at Navan (20f, heavy) on debut over fences 15 days ago. Up in trip and trainer going well so one for the shortlist.

Form: 26-2465

Fakir^t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Donagh Meyler| T: J P O'Brien

15/2

Useful hurdler who (7/1) looked very rusty after 9 months off when fifth of 10 in novice chase at Gowran (20f, heavy) on debut over fences 30 days ago. Sure to improve up in trip so no forlorn hope.

Form: 761U1-5

Ministerforsport^p1,t⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Phillip Enright| T: Noel O'Neill| OR: 135

15/2

Fairly useful chaser but he was pulled up in Grade 3 chase at Cork (20f, heavy) 49 days ago. Cheekpieces reached for now and needs to bounce back.

Form: 24-PP2P

Mormon⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 130

13/8

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser who (16/1) returned after 9 months off with good fifth of 22 in handicap chase at Navan (24f, soft) 42 days ago. This stiffer test will suit so he holds leading claims.

Form: 27/529-5

Nothinbuttime¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: C F Hart⁽⁷⁾| T: F J Flood

200/1

Winning pointer who unseated rider second in novice chase (200/1) at Navan (20f, heavy) on NH debut 15 days ago. Up in trip and needs to brush up jumping.

Form: 5P515U

Forecasts

Escaria Ten (6/5), Mormon (13/8), Ministerforsport (15/2), Fakir (15/2), Face The Odds (16/1), Comporta (200/1), Black Samurai (200/1), Nothinbuttime (200/1)

MORMON returned with an encouraging fifth in the Troytown so looks the way to go here with few miles still on the clock and a clear chance on form. Escaria Ten shaped with promise on his chasing bow when fifth at Fairyhouse so is much respected with improvement in the pipeline, while Ministerforsport is not ruled out if shrugging off a modest Cork showing now fitted with cheekpieces.