13:30 Thurles

Thursday 9 February 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Horse & Jockey Beginners Chase

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 4m 4.2s

Battle Of Mirbat¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: M J McDonagh

22/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. First run since leaving Kieran Purcell when last of 3 in novice chase at Gowran (16f, heavy, 28/1) on debut over fences 14 days ago.

Form: F-82323

Francois¹⁰¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr B Dunleavy⁽⁷⁾| T: Mary Ellen Doyle

7/1

Promising individual. Winner in hurdle at Punchestown in May. 50/1, eleventh of 14 in novice chase at Wexford (16f, heavy) 101 days ago. Should progress.

Form: 319050

Lucky Number^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Phillip Enright| T: O McKiernan

66/1

Lightly-raced maiden over hurdles. Modest winner at 8f on flat. Respectable eighth of 14 in handicap at Dundalk (8f, 9/1) 27 days ago. Makes chase debut. Poor on last hurdle outing.

Form: 570/0

Ricky Bobby³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: A McCurtin⁽³⁾| T: Brendan Walsh| D

80/1

First run since leaving John J. Walsh when seventh of 8 in minor event chase at Tramore (15.4f, heavy, 25/1) on debut over fences 39 days ago.

Form: 120-0P7

Saldier⁴³

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

4/9

Smart hurdler. 40/1, below form 25 lengths sixth of 11 to Home By The Lee in Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown (24f, soft) 43 days ago. Makes chase debut. Significantly back down in trip.

Form: 5P6-366

The Boys In Blue^t⁶¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Richard Condon⁽⁵⁾| T: O McKiernan

125/1

Poor hurdler. 250/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, tenth of 18 in novice hurdle at Punchestown (20.4f, good to soft). Off 20 months. Makes chase debut. Down in trip.

Form: 499/000-

The Priests Leap^b1,t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Keith Donoghue| T: W Durkan| OR: 119| D

10/1

Fairly useful chaser. Last of 6 in minor event hurdle (33/1) at Clonmel (16.8f, heavy) 23 days ago. Switches from hurdles to chase. Blinkers on 1st time , tongue strap back on. Solid claims.

Form: 74P-436

Zanjabeel^b,t⁶⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Liam McKenna⁽⁵⁾| T: Stephanie Ocsko-Moore| D

40/1

First run since leaving Stephanie Moore when eighth of 12 in handicap hurdle (125/1) at Fairyhouse (20.2f, soft) 68 days ago.

Form: 114P/6-8

Solness⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien

4/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 8/1, first run since leaving Mlle D. Mele when fifth of 6 in minor event hurdle at Punchestown (16.1f, good to soft) on IRE NH debut 82 days ago. Makes chase debut.

Form: 124-75

Getaway Beauty¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Brian Hayes| T: J Dullea

200/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. Thirteenth of 16 in novice chase (300/1) at Fairyhouse (16f, heavy) on debut over fences 15 days ago.

Form: 000P-0

Non-Runners

Pats Choice⁴⁵

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: G Elliott J: Jordan Gainford

Read To Return¹⁵

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: A J Martin J: P J Carberry

Forecasts

Saldier (4/9), Solness (4/1), Pats Choice (5/1), Francois (7/1), The Priests Leap (10/1), Battle Of Mirbat (22/1), Read To Return (33/1), Zanjabeel (40/1), Lucky Number (66/1), Ricky Bobby (80/1), The Boys In Blue (125/1), Getaway Beauty (200/1)

This should prove something of a formality for SALDIER if he takes to chasing at the first attempt. The Priests Leap is the pick of those with chasing experience and Francois isn't completely dismissed given he has the scope for improvement.