Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase

Off time: 11:35 | Winning time: 4m 13.09s

Colonel Mustard³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: L Fowler| D

5/1

Promising type. Useful winner at 16f over hurdles. Fourth of 11 in novice chase at Navan (17f, soft, 2/1) on debut over fences 38 days ago, not knocked about. Open to improvement.

Form: 12337-4

El Fabiolo²³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

1/5

Smart winner at 16f over hurdles. Won 9-runner novice hurdle (8/13) at Punchestown (16f, good to soft), pushed out. Off 7 months. Makes chase debut and he's an exciting prospect.

Form: 3/121-

Harvey's Quay²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: E J O'Grady| D

125/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Hooded for 1st time, creditable fifth of 18 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.3f, good to soft, 4/1) 22 days ago. Makes chase debut.

Form: 319U-35

Highland Charge²⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Cooper| T: N Meade| CD

11/1

Useful winner at 15f over hurdles. Career best when winning 8-runner Kingsfurze Novices' Hurdle at Naas (15.4f, heavy, 10/1) by head from Vina Ardanza, always holding on. Chase debut.

Form: 4/62211-

Percy Warner²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| CD

20/1

Fairly useful winner at 16f over hurdles. Point winner. First run since leaving Gordon Elliott when fifth of 15 in novice chase (7/1) at Navan (17f, heavy) on debut over fences 24 days ago, running on.

Form: U111/5

Non-Runners

Top Bandit²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: Jack Kennedy

Forecasts

El Fabiolo (1/5), Colonel Mustard (5/1), Highland Charge (11/1), Top Bandit (14/1), Percy Warner (20/1), Harvey's Quay (125/1)

EL FABIOLO quickly made up into a smart hurdler for his powerful stable last term, successful twice either side of finishing runner-up in an Aintree Grade 1. A very exciting chase prospect, he should take some stopping. Top Bandit and Colonel Mustard showed plenty to work on last-time-out and are the obvious threats.