13:55 Thurles

Monday 13 March 2023

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:50

Racing Again March 18th Maiden Hunters Chase

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 7m 2.20s

Ask The Bishop^t1⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr J C Barry⁽³⁾| T: M Butler

50/1

Offered little in 4 starts in maiden hurdles at up to 3m during first half of last year. Failed to complete in 2 starts between the Flags in November but much more like it when scoring in that sphere in December. Task is to build on that here.

Form: 0-09UP1

Brave Starlight^t1¹¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: Mrs G O'Connor

6/1

Placed once from 3 starts in points, pulled up last time (Nov 19). Others mre obvious.

Form: 5-3P

Dento Des Obeaux⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D G Lavery| T: Patrick Turley| OR: 97

11/4

10-y-o who twice went close in handicap chase contests during 2021. Comes here on the back of 2 recent point wins and he's a likely player back under Rules.

Form: 322-211

Happy Victory²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr H C Swan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Elliott

2/1

Mixed bag over hurdles but comes here having tasted success on each of his 2 starts between the Flags, latterly at Punchestown in February. Leading claims for Gordon Elliott stable.

Form: 49-5P11

Lesssaidthebetter¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr T Power Roche⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 83

16/1

Long-standing maiden under Rules but did taste success by wide margin in points on penultimate start and matched that when finishing close-up third on latest outing late last month. May have to settle for a minor role again here, though.

Form: 67U313

Longhouse Star²³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P A King⁽⁵⁾| T: S Curling

5/1

Placed in points, including last 2 starts (Feb 18 latest). Interesting what the market makes of him.

Form: P-3F32

Royal Juniper^t⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss M O'Sullivan⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Martin

12/1

Point winner who has failed to make an impact in trio of hunter chase events in recent months, pulled up on latest outing at Clonmel (20f) in January. Bit to prove now with tongue tie refitted.

Form: 83-157P

Ta Se Rua^b1²⁸⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr D A Mulcahy⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Healy

100/1

Record stands at 1-14 in points. Failed to complete on 2 of 3 starts in hunter chase contests early last year and pulled up between the Flags on latest start (Feb. 19). Blinkers on 1st time.

Form: 145-P4F

Carrig Wells^p1²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr D M Fitzgerald⁽⁷⁾| T: M P Fitzgerald

12/1

Winning pointer who surpassed exploits in bumpers when runner-up in mares' maiden hunter at Cork (3m) last April. Arrives here on back of a point win (Feb.12) and she appeals as one of the likelier types.

Form: 32-3331

Keenaghan Lass²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr T P Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: T F Shaw| OR: 74

16/1

Little impact over hurdles/fences. Does boast a record of 2-7 in points and returned to form when second to re-opposing Happy Victory on return to action at Punchestown last month. Still, work to do if she's to reverse those placings here.

Form: P076-62

Forecasts

Happy Victory (2/1), Dento Des Obeaux (11/4), Longhouse Star (5/1), Brave Starlight (6/1), Carrig Wells (12/1), Royal Juniper (12/1), Keenaghan Lass (16/1), Lesssaidthebetter (16/1), Ask The Bishop (50/1), Ta Se Rua (100/1)

Quite a few of these arrive in good form from the pointing field, none more so than this year's dual winner HAPPY VICTORY who can make a successful hunter chase debut for Gordon Elliott. Dento des Obeaux and Carrig Wells can give him most to think about.