12:15 Punchestown

Saturday 31 December 2022

All12:1512:4713:2213:5714:3215:0715:42

Tote Always SP Or Better At Punchestown Beginners Chase

Off time: 12:15 | Winning time: 6m 31.50s

Aione²⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| BF| C

11/2

Useful chaser. Creditable second of 14 in novice chase (8/13) at Cork (20f, heavy). Off 8 months but in top hands and this trip will suit.

Form: 2110/32-

Alfa Mix^b¹³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Dempsey| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 129

10/1

Useful hurdler. Fourteen runs since last win in 2019. 7/2, creditable third of 8 in novice chase at Killarney (23f, good to soft) 134 days ago.

Form: 7PF-323

Fakiera^b²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 131| BF

7/1

Useful hurdler. Very good second of 12 in handicap chase (4/1) at Fairyhouse (29f, heavy) 27 days ago. Back down in trip. Not taken lightly.

Form: 8-24652

From The Ashes^p1³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Philip Byrnes⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes

50/1

Fair chaser. Creditable fifth of 11 in novice chase at Thurles (18f, good to soft, 40/1) 30 days ago. Up in trip. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: 243075

Hi Ho Phoenix³⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| D

10/1

Fairly useful winner at 24f over hurdles. 7/4, career best when winning 15-runner novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (23.5f, soft) on hurdles bow, easily, Makes chase debut for top yard after a year off.

Form: 323/1-

Mahler Mission^t⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Simon Torrens| T: J C McConnell| OR: 140

13/2

Useful hurdler. Latest win in hurdle at Perth in April. Useful winner at 24f over hurdles. Second of 3 in novice chase (15/8) at Cheltenham (24.4f, good to soft) on debut over fences 70 days ago.

Form: 21171-2

Shantreusse⁴⁶

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

10/11

Useful winner at 24f over hurdles. 6/1, fourth of 12 in novice chase at Fairyhouse (21f, heavy) on debut over fences 46 days ago. That was a promising start and he's open to improvement.

Form: 1/2110-4

Must Be Obeyed²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: T Gibney| C

18/1

Fairly useful winner at 21f over hurdles. Fourth of 7 in novice chase at Fairyhouse (21.2f, soft, 66/1) on debut over fences 28 days ago.

Form: 1852-94

Non-Runners

Derrinross¹³⁸⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 11

T: J P Dempsey J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Shantreusse (10/11), Aione (11/2), Mahler Mission (13/2), Fakiera (7/1), Alfa Mix (10/1), Hi Ho Phoenix (10/1), Must Be Obeyed (18/1), Derrinross (25/1), From The Ashes (50/1)

SHANTREUSSE's chase debut at Fairyhouse was full of promise and likely to step up on that, he could be the answer to what is an open contest. The selection may have most to fear from the Mullins pair Aione and Hi Ho Phoenix.