mallardjewellers.com Novices' Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:11 | Winning time: 6m 22.09s

Bardenstown Lad⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Simon Torrens| T: J C McConnell| CD

11/10

Useful hurdler last season, one of his four wins gained at this track and signed off with an excellent third in the Albert Bartlett. Inauspicious start over fences at Listowel in September but has to be better than that as a chaser.

Form: 3113F-5

Indigo Breeze^h⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: G Elliott| OR: 136

5/2

Useful hurdler who looked booked for second when taking a late tumble on chase debut ay Limerick in July. Placed both starts since but hasn't really kicked on and hopes rest on this step up to 3m unlocking more.

Form: 128-F32

The Real Whacker²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: P Neville| OR: 136

10/1

Left hurdling debut form in Ireland behind to run out a surprise winner of maiden at Carlisle in December and ran a belter when second in a 3m Doncaster Grade 2 7 weeks later. Disappointing reappearance/handicap debut here last month and now goes chasing having rejoined Patrick Neville.

Form: 612-0

Haute Estime⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 130| BF

7/2

Listed hurdles winner against her own sex last winter and matched pick of hurdles form when second of in a handicap chase at Kelso last month (23.4f). Should be plenty more to come from her over the larger obstacles.

Form: 14143-2

Red As Rust²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Brian Hayes| T: N Slevin| D

40/1

Limitations exposed in better company after winning a maiden hurdle in January. Made chase debut pretty late in life last month but it was a fair effort at Thurles. More needed up in trip.

Form: P4166-3

Non-Runners

Mister Coffey²¹⁹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Forecasts

Bardenstown Lad (11/10), Mister Coffey (13/8), Indigo Breeze (5/2), Haute Estime (7/2), The Real Whacker (10/1), Red As Rust (40/1)

MISTER COFFEY is pretty experienced for a novice and his runner-up effort in the Kim Muir here in March is the most persuasive piece of chase form on offer. He can make a winning reappearance, perhaps at the chief expense of Haute Estime and Bardenstown Lad.