Castlerea Novice Chase

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 4m 2.30s

Sole Pretender^h¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Simon Torrens| T: N Lee| D

2/9

Promising type. Career best when winning 10-runner novice chase at Ballinrobe (17f, good to soft, 7/4) on debut over fences 14 days ago, plenty in hand. Should improve.

Form: 15/185-1

Banjo³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Conor Smithers⁽⁷⁾| T: D Cullen| OR: 101| D

50/1

Fair chaser. One win from 31 NH runs. 28/1, twelfth of 18 in handicap at Gowran (14f, good) 34 days ago. Switches from Flat to chase. Respectable on last hurdle outing.

Form: 987367-

Clever Currency^t²⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Eoin G Kelly⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Flynn| D

40/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Winner in hurdle at Limerick in April 2021. Pulled up in handicap hurdle at Listowel (16f, good to soft, 33/1), headed fourth. Off 8 months. Makes chase debut.

Form: 1/3074P-

Custers Mistake^t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: I J Power| T: M M McNiff

28/1

Fair hurdler. Second of 6 in novice chase at Kilbeggan (19.9f, good to soft, 22/1) on debut over fences 9 days ago.

Form: 8425-42

Ferdia⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁵⁾| T: J P Ryan| OR: 118| BF| D

7/2

Fairly useful chaser. Twenty runs since last win in 2021. Creditable second of 9 in novice chase (5/4) at Clonmel (16f, good to soft) 4 days ago, no match for winner.

Form: 43-5332

Forecasts

Sole Pretender (2/9), Ferdia (7/2), Custers Mistake (28/1), Clever Currency (40/1), Banjo (50/1)

SOLE PRETENDER was smart over hurdles and made a sparkling chase debut after 7 months off when winning with plenty in hand at Ballinrobe 2 weeks ago. He's likely to prove at least as good in this sphere so should prove very hard to beat under a penalty. Ferdia can follow him home.