13:55 Thurles

Saturday 18 March 2023

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:20

Dillon Quirke Foundation Mares Beginners Chase

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 4m 54.10s

Big Ears⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: Miss Liz Doyle

150/1

200/1, pulled up in novice chase at Gowran (20f, heavy) on debut over fences 7 days ago.

Form: 0/8P-97P

Choice Of Words^t⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Slevin| T: M Brassil| D

2/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 6/1, fell in novice chase at Naas (20f, soft) on debut over fences 69 days ago. Open to progress.

Form: 14220-F

Diamondinthemud¹²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Slevin

33/1

Fair hurdler. Winner in hurdle at Downpatrick in July. Respectable eighth of 19 in handicap hurdle (28/1) at Cheltenham (16.4f, good) 127 days ago. Makes chase debut.

Form: 210328

Happy D'ex¹¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott| OR: 127

7/1

Fairly useful chaser. 2 wins from 5 runs this season. Latest win in hurdle at Perth in September. 3/1, third of 5 in novice chase at Cork (16.7f, soft) 118 days ago. Shortlist material for all her jumping could do with some work.

Form: 8-S1123

Mansoline^t1⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Phillip Enright| T: B McMahon

100/1

Fair winner at 16f in bumpers. 33/1, pulled up in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (24.4f, heavy) 61 days ago. Chase debut for new yard.

Form: 0/5P-90P

Pont Aval¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

13/8

Fairly useful hurdler. Fairly useful winner at 20f over hurdles. 5/2, creditable second of 8 in novice chase at Clonmel (20f, soft) 16 days ago. Should continue to give a good account.

Form: P10/P22

Red As Rust¹²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: C J Orr| T: N Slevin| D

18/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Fairly useful winner at 18f over hurdles. Pulled up in novice chase at Cheltenham (24.4f, good to soft, 40/1) 125 days ago. Down in trip.

Form: 4166-3P

Six Feet Apart⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: R Deegan| T: J P O'Brien

25/1

Fairly useful winner at 17f over hurdles. Tailed-off last of 6 to Allegorie De Vassy in Gr 2 chase at this course (20.4f, soft, 40/1) 55 days ago. This is easier.

Form: 17F-656

Time To Rocco^h¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: M J M O'Sullivan⁽⁵⁾| T: C Motherway| D

4/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Respectable eighth of 15 in handicap hurdle at Leopardstown (20f, good, 11/2) 13 days ago. Makes chase debut (point winner).

Form: PF0338

Walking Fame⁴⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Shane Fitzgerald⁽³⁾| T: B R Hamilton

100/1

Fairly useful hurdler. Sixteenth of 19 in handicap hurdle (11/1) at Fairyhouse (20f, good). Off 15 months. Makes chase debut. First run for yard after leaving W. P. Mullins.

Form: 141/680-

Non-Runners

Nell's Well¹¹⁸

Weight: 11-7| Age: 9

T: S O O'Brien J: Mark McDonagh

Forecasts

Pont Aval (13/8), Choice Of Words (2/1), Time To Rocco (4/1), Nell's Well (6/1), Happy D'ex (7/1), Red As Rust (18/1), Six Feet Apart (25/1), Diamondinthemud (33/1), Walking Fame (100/1), Mansoline (100/1), Big Ears (150/1)

PONT AVAL and Happy d'Ex have achieved similar form over the larger obstacles so far and with the latter prone to mistakes, it may pay to side with the Mullins mare. Of the rest, Choice of Words fell on chase debut but much better can be expected this time.